Three years in the past Taniela Tupou half-jokingly mentioned, “present me the cash”. Rugby Australia did, however midway by means of the 2025 Tremendous Rugby season, the Tongan Thor fears being dropped for the Lions after a disaster of confidence, which has left him questioning whether or not the 58-Check Wallaby can play rugby.
“My focus now could be simply attempting to play nicely for the Waratahs as a result of in the meanwhile I’m not performing, and it was a objective of mine to play towards the Lions. But when I’m being trustworthy with myself, I’m no likelihood of creating that group, due to how I’ve been performing this 12 months,” Tupou informed The Sydney Morning Herald in a candid interview.
“I’m at peace with it, I do know it’s going to harm, however l informed myself, ‘you’re simply not performing, and it’s simply not ok to be picked for the Lions [series]’. So I image in my head, getting a name saying I’m not within the group, and I’m simply accepting the truth that I’m not getting picked.
“Clearly, it’s onerous. Since I’ve been on the Wallabies, the one cause [I haven’t been selected in the past] is due to accidents, and to get dropped for Lions could be robust. However a minimum of I do know the explanation, ?”
Taniela Tupou admits he’s battling a disaster of confidence . (Picture by Adam Fairly – World Rugby/World Rugby through Getty Photographs)
Whereas there’s been loads of causes to get enthusiastic about Australian rugby over the previous 12 months, together with the development of the Wallabies beneath Joe Schmidt and the larger competitiveness of the Tremendous Rugby sides, Tupou’s struggles have been one of many few real problematic areas forward of the Lions collection.
Able to being essentially the most damaging prop on the planet, Tupou has been a shell of himself since becoming a member of the Waratahs.
Whereas he was unfit and spent extra time on the deck than ever earlier than on the Rebels in 2024 after a few injury-ridden years, Tupou has been match and out there all season for the Waratahs. The difficulty is the $1.2 million man has been lacking in motion.
Whereas Eddie Jones informed The Roar he would do every part he might to maintain Tupou in Australian rugby, and Schmidt mentioned the prop’s expertise could be important, his type points have meant he has but to obtain a suggestion from Rugby Australia regardless of being off contract at 12 months’s finish.
The Roar understands a number of suitors, together with in England and France, are taken with Tupou, however the generational expertise gained’t be rushed into a call as he holds out hope of a type return.
“I actually assume it’s psychological, as a result of the efficiency isn’t there and I begin to second-guess myself, and begin asking questions. ‘Can I do that? Is that this for me?’ Or, ‘am I good?’ You begin enjoying in your head,” Tupou informed The Herald.
“Now I’m going into video games considering, ‘oh, I’ve to do that, I’ve to try this’. I’ve this checklist in my head, then I am going into the sport and I’m not in a position to take any of the alternatives, and it upsets me.
“I bear in mind at my greatest, I used to be only a child having enjoyable. There was no stress.
“I used to be simply on the market doing my factor, and I believe I’m simply placing quite a lot of stress on myself in the meanwhile. And I am going into some video games considering, ‘oh, there’s no stress’ and ‘I’m simply going to get there and luxuriate in it’, however then I’m simply mendacity to myself.”
Requested what he thought was going mistaken along with his sport, Tupou mentioned he was scared to do what got here naturally to him previously.
“I don’t know what it’s, after spherical one, I used to be like, possibly I’m slowly stepping into it. Then spherical two, spherical three, spherical 4, spherical 5, and I’m like, OK, there’s one thing that’s not proper right here, and generally, I am going on the market, and I end the sport, and I’m like, ‘f— me, do I understand how to play rugby any extra, or what?’” he mentioned.
“It looks like I simply don’t know what I’m doing, ? I’m nervous to do issues I used to do nicely, I used to simply be operating the ball, and simply offloading, and simply in a position to do issues.
“However I’m nervous to throw a cross. I don’t know what it’s, however I hope I can discover a answer, as a result of I wish to play nicely for the Tahs, and I wish to hopefully get again within the Wallabies at some point.”
Taniela Tupou says he’s been “nervous” to do what normally comes naturally to him on the rugby area in 2025. (Picture by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Photographs)
Tupou’s extraordinary and candid admission comes with the Waratahs’ season spiralling uncontrolled.
Having gained 4 of their opening 5 matches, the Waratahs are actually in ninth with a month to go after profitable simply considered one of their previous 5 video games.
Though Tupou’s struggles aren’t the one cause the Waratahs have slipped down the rankings, Dan McKellar would have hoped his skilled Check prop would have precipitated some carnage, notably on the scrum.
As a substitute, the Waratahs’ scrum has merely been regular with Tupou on the sector, whereas solely Angus Bell and Langi Gleeson have persistently made inroads with ball-in-hand.
Tupou admitted he had even shied away from contacted Schmidt due to the upcoming collection.
“The opposite day, I wished to succeed in out to him [for] some assist, however I didn’t wish to as a result of, clearly, he’s getting nearer on the finish of the season, and it’s getting nearer for him to select his group for the Lions, and I didn’t wish to … I don’t know, I used to be like, I’ll depart him alone, I’ll simply get some assist someplace,” Tupou mentioned.
The Tongan-born prop, who grew to become a schoolboy sensation in New Zealand earlier than signing with the Queensland Reds after idolising Quade Cooper as a teen, added that it wasn’t misplaced on him that his time within the gold jersey wasn’t assured.
“I’m beginning to assume, considered one of these excursions, considered one of these camps, it could possibly be my final,” he mentioned.
“I began considering like {that a} 12 months or two in the past, and each time I get an opportunity to play with the Wallabies, I actually, take pleasure in it, as a result of I’m getting outdated …. so it means lots to me to play.”
Taniela Tupou says he’s undecided if he’ll earn choice for the Wallabies towards the Lions. (Picture By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile through Getty Photographs)
Tupou will come off the bench for the Waratahs in Friday evening’s must-win conflict towards his former facet, the Queensland Reds.
Reds lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, who performed alongside Tupou on the Rebels and Reds, mentioned on Wednesday the Wallabies wanted the prop to rediscover his type for the nation to be an opportunity towards the Lions.
“If there’s any likelihood we’ve in profitable a Lions collection and residential World Cup (in 2027), he needs to be concerned,” he informed reporters in Brisbane.
“We undergo instances when our type dips. He’s solely human, no exception.
“For the Wallabies to do nicely … you’ve obtained to incorporate him, I believe everybody is aware of that.
“Get behind him and assist him as a result of we all know that at his greatest, there’s not many who come shut.”
