'You're not weak in speaking up': Taniela Tupou's message after emotional rehab
Fearing his World Cup dream had been wrecked by serious injury, Wallabies prop Taniela Tupou says he contemplated walking away from rugby.
Tupou is primed for a return to the Test arena in Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup clash with New Zealand in Melbourne after rupturing an achilles playing against Ireland last November.
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones said earlier this year that the ‘Tongan Thor’ could become the world’s best tight-head prop.
But that description seemed a long way away for Tupou, who said he went to a “very dark place” as he raced the clock to recover for the game’s global showpiece in France starting in early September.
“When I did my achilles last year I thought the worst,” the 27-year-old said.
“I was in my last year of my contract, I thought I was going to miss World Cup, just everything you know – I was in a very dark place.
“The last eight to nine months has been tough, to do all the rehab … there was a time where I really thought about my future in footy.
“It was just mentally hard.”
Tupou, who will shift from Queensland to play for the Melbourne Rebels next Super Rugby Pacific season, said he had to learn to speak up and ask for help from his Wallabies brethren and staff to climb out of the mental hole.
Known as one of the jokers in the squad, Tupou said it was tough to be vulnerable.
“Before, I was one of those guys where speaking up was not an option. But you find out you’re not weak in speaking up,” said Tupou.
“So I had to learn the new skill of talking or speaking up when I needed to.
“I find it really helpful, just knowing that someone knows what you’re going through. Every now and then they come and check on you and it feels good.
“I’m here now and I couldn’t be any happier – I’m just grateful I’m here in this position and I’m grateful I’m back in the team.”
Born in Tonga before shifting to Australia via New Zealand, and making his international debut in 2017, Tupou said he circled the Australia A match against Tonga in Nuku’alofa earlier this month for his return.
Tupou said playing in his homeland was an emotional experience.
“I asked Eddie (Jones) if I could play Australia A as these games never happen in Tonga,” said Tupou, who became a father last year.
“For someone like myself, who grew up in Tonga and played in that stadium when I was in school, to have the opportunity to go back and perform in front of my family, it just felt a full circle for me.
“It was by far the highlight of my career, I get a bit emotional talking about it because it means so much to me.”
He played 40 minutes in that match to stamp himself ready for game one of the Bledisloe Cup at the MCG, where he will add to his 47 Tests.
If selected to face the All Blacks, Tupou said he was determined to put in a performance to repay those who supported him through his rehabilitation.
“If I get a chance to play I’m going to put in a performance that those guys are proud of, that I’m proud of, as I didn’t get here on my own,” he said.
“There’s a lot of people that got me here so I want to put in a performance they’re proud of as a way of me thanking them.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
37 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
1 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
4 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to comments