Tupou pulled from Wallabies camp for early Lions duel

Australia play Fiji in Newcastle on Sunday, coach Joe Schmidt on Monday releasing Tupou after including him in the wider Test squad last week.

The off-contract Tupou, reportedly set for a club move to France, did not hit his straps for the Waratahs this season but at his best would be a crucial piece of the Wallabies' pack to take on the Lions.

He'll get his chance to make an early statement on Saturday before Schmidt refines his squad for the three-Test Lions series beginning in Brisbane on July 19.