3 months ago
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Wallabies prop Taniela Tupou has revealed how the tears he shed while singing the national anthem before the third and final Test came after realising it could be his last time representing Australia.
After a challenging season with the Waratahs that led Tupou to question his place on the rugby field the prop marked his recall to the Wallabies starting lineup with an outstanding display in Sydney.
“I was quite emotional when I sang the anthem, and as you get older, these opportunities mean a lot more to you,” Tupou said.
“You tend to think when you get older, oh man, one of these games could be your last, so I was just soaking it in, soaking in the environment, the crowd and everything. It was pretty cool to be part of it and I’m so delighted we won the game.”
Tupou was not selected for the first two Tests against the Lions, but credits his time with the First Nations and Pasifika squad led by former Wallabies great Toutai Kefu with rebuilding his confidence on the field after excelling against the Lions in Melbourne in a close defeat.
“I was quite nervous at the time when I went out first (to the First Nations and Pasifika squad), but there was no pressure at all,” Tupou said.
“The coaches told us we’ve got the licence to do whatever we wanted to do and just get out there and have fun.
“Everybody knows how to play footy, so that was the mindset I went out to that game with. Whatever’s in front of me, I’ve got to do it and just play what’s in front of me, so I did that and I quite enjoyed that game.”
Taniela Tupou makes a break in the third Test in Sydney against the British and Irish LionsCredit: Getty Images
Tupou’s performance in Melbourne under Kefu was focused on dominating the scrum and not overthinking his game. In Sydney, Tupou won two crucial scrum penalties against giant Irish prop Andrew Porter and was unlucky not to win more.
“I didn’t want to come up here and try something different or try to be a hero, I just wanted to do my job,” Tupou said.
“I knew the Lions are one of the best (teams) in the world. You’ve got (Andrew) Porter, you’ve got (Ellis) Genge coming off the bench. They’re so good so I had to be on my best to go against them...I did my best out there.”
Shortly after the enforced break due to lightning, Tupou also made a brilliant break that almost led to a Wallabies try. The prop explained the unexpected time in the changing room gave him another few minutes out on the field.
“I was enjoying it (the break), I was like, more, man, more,I think I needed that break, actually,” Tupou said. “I was supposed to play 40 or 50 (minutes), I ended up playing 60, thanks to the lightning.
“Honestly, when I made that break, I didn’t know that anyone was inside me. So, I was just thinking, okay, it’s a one-on-one with the fullback. I’m going to try and swap the ball and then fend, that’s the last thing I remember. I was on the ground and I was like, what? I would have loved to have scored that, but I didn’t.”
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Tupou will play his club rugby for Racing 92 in Paris next season, but stressed that he will be always be available for his country should Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt want to select him, including this year’s Rugby Championship.
“I’ll always make myself available for the Wallabies, whether I’m in France or wherever I am, if they need me, I’ll 100 per cent put my hands up,” Tupou said.
“Hopefully, this isn’t the last time, hopefully, there’s more to come...If I want to go to France and perform, I need to keep playing footy. This helps me. Hopefully, I keep playing. Who knows what happens in TRC (Rugby Championship), fingers crossed.”
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