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Wallabies tighthead prop Taniela Tupou confirmed that he played his last game for the Waratahs after the 21-10 loss to the British and Irish Lions in Sydney.
Tupou will move to play for Racing 92 next season, the former club of South Africa’s World Cup winning Siya Kolisi and current Lions squad member Owen Farrell.
Farrell was in the crowd at Allianz Stadium and like Kolisi lasted just one season at Racing 92 to return to their homelands early. Tupou is hoping for a longer stay in Paris after joking that he hoped the English playmaker had left some money for him at the club.
“It’s a big move for me, I wasn’t sure, I didn’t want to leave (Australia), that’s the honest truth,” Tupou said.
“But I had to go out there and try something different, Australia is all I know, I started here and wanted to give everything to Australia.”
After talking about his struggles to perform for the Waratahs in an interview with this masthead, Tupou said he was frustrated he couldn’t perform at his best in sky blue after settling into Sydney.
“It’s tough, there are expectations to perform and I wasn’t able to fulfil that,” Tupou said.
“When I signed here, I knew I had to come in here and perform. I didn’t do that. Obviously, the pressure was on me the whole time to perform. I didn’t do it. It’s frustrating because I did everything right off the field. Me and my family are happy here. It was a bit tough.
“Everything went right off the field. I just wasn’t able to put it together on the field. It was frustrating. Hopefully, next season I’ll learn from it and perform better.”
Tupou was disappointed to not be able to stay in Australia, where he has lived since signing for the Reds ten years ago after becoming a schoolboy sensation in New Zealand.
Taniela Tupou shakes hands with Tadgh Furlong of the British and Irish LionsCredit: AP
The tighthead prop said that he was grateful for the support he has received from Rugby Australia and understood their position.
“As much as I wanted to stay in Australia, Rugby Australia is going to do what they’re going to do, I’m at peace with it,” Tupou said.
“I understand what they’re doing. It’s like if I’m paying you to work for me and you’re not working for me, why am I keeping you?
“And that’s exactly what happened to me last year and this year, I wasn’t performing.
“They (other props) all performed to their level of expectation. It’s only fair that they (RA) look for someone else who can do the job because at the moment, I can’t do it. At the end of the day, it’s business. Sometimes you’ve just got to look out for your family and that’s what I’m doing.
“But I appreciate it. They’ve done a lot for me since I started here, what they’re doing is what’s best for them.”
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Tupou had a difficult night against the Lions, conceding four scrum penalties. The prop said he was keen to play a part in the Test series, but also understood if Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt went in another direction.
“I hope so. I know what Taniela can do, the challenge is can I get out there and do it for Australia,” Tupou said.
“I’m not in the team at the moment so I’m not sure what the goal is for the next few weeks, if I’m in, I’m in. If I’m not, I’ll be on the side and supporting the boys.”
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