The Rugby World Cup is just four months away, but Taniela Tupou admits there is an element of uncertainty about whether he will be in Paris to run out against Georgia on September 10 despite showing off his dancing feet on Wednesday.
A candid Tupou also opened up on his international journey, saying he doesn’t think he’s close to reaching his potential with the Wallabies.
Tupou, one of the world’s most devastating scrummagers and runners, has yet to run since rupturing his Achilles in Dublin last November.
The 27-year-old, who in February signed a multi-million-dollar, two-year extension with Rugby Australia to join the Rebels next year, hopes he will be able to start running again by the end of the month.
Taniela Tupou says he’s racing the clock to be fit and firing for the Rugby World Cup. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
From there the tight-head prop hopes to make his return via club rugby in Brisbane by July, before potentially being eligible to be picked by Eddie Jones for the Wallabies.
But with the Wallabies’ first Test of the season against South Africa in Pretoria on July 9 and their last match in the Southern Hemisphere against the All Blacks in Dunedin on August 5 before Jones names his World Cup squad, the returning head coach will likely have to take a gamble on whether his star prop can feature prominently in his tournament plans.
“It’s up to Eddie if he wants me to be a part of the team,” Tupou told reporters in Sydney on Wednesday before tickets go on sale for the Wallabies’ Test against Argentina on July 15.
“At the moment, I’m focusing on getting the strength back in my Achilles and calf and I’m still two weeks away from running. Can’t wait for that.
“I’m not sure, maybe around July I’ll be playing some club footy and who knows.”
Whether he can hit top form overnight remains to be seen, with Tupou likely to spend some time working with Jones’ new sports psychologist Corinne Reid to help his recovery.
“If I have a month or two before the World Cup, I won’t be as confident,” he said.
“Coming back from a big injury like this you need a few big games to get that confidence back. I’m lucky enough to have three months to try and get back. Fingers crossed.”
The Wallabies’ front-row Taniela Tupou, David Porecki and Angus Bell pose during at CommBank Stadium on May 10, 2023 in Sydney. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Tupou admitted he feared the worst when he lay near the 22 metre line at Lansdowne Road against the Irish on last year’s Spring Tour.
“I didn’t know much after that because I was on some stuff (medication), but I rolled up the next morning and everything goes through my mind. It was my last year of my contract, World Cup year. Everything was on the line,” he said.
“There was a lot of pressure. But it was all out of my control. It took a few weeks to finally calm down and I spoke to a few people and six months later my contract was sorted.
“I think I should be back for the World Cup.”
But tipping the scales at the best part of 150 kilograms, there is plenty that can still go wrong for the man they call the ‘Tongan Thor’.
“It’s a bit hard because I’m not running at the moment and trying to keep that weight off,” he said.
“I wouldn’t say I’ve been really good but I’m trying.”
Angus Bell and Taniela Tupou have been training together Monday to Friday. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Since March, Tupou has been joined daily by front-row partner Angus Bell after the Test front-rower had surgery to remove a bone from his foot to prevent any further issues with his toe.
It has led to the front-rowers spending the week training one another to help their recoveries.
“Doing it by yourself it’s pretty hard. But at the moment Angus Bell is obviously coming back from a toe injury and they [Rugby Australia] put us together,” Tupou said.
“We train together. He comes to Brisbane for three days and then I come to join him.
“Just knowing there’s someone there with you helps a lot.”
Bell added: “Most of my 20 tests I’ve played with Nella off the bench and I’ve started with Nella as well against England. It’s definitely a thing, with props, if I push harder it helps him, if he does the same it helps me. We’ve spoken about if we come back for one game what we’re going to do and hopefully what we can bring.”
Tupou said Jones had encouraged him to purely focus on his injury rehabilitation.
It’s understood the Wallabies coach wants Tupou to forget about hitting rucks and work on explosiveness in the carry and at the set-piece.
Tupou can become the most damaging prop in the world but as yet has very rarely dominated Tests for the Wallabies, particularly as a starter, like he has for the Reds in Super Rugby.
He admitted as much when asked if had he delivered on his potential.
“No,” he said after a long pause. “I don’t think so and that’s something I’m working really hard on.
“Sitting back this time and looking back at what I’ve done in the jersey, I don’t think I’ve done enough and hopefully when I’m back, and if I’m back in the team, I get to the level I think I can get to.”
Tupou said he was excited for next year’s “new start” at the Rebels, where he hoped the new environment would help him take his game to a new level.
“I spoke to different people and I asked for their thoughts and they recommended a change of environment would help as a player,” Tupou told The Roar.
“It was so hard to leave the Reds, a club that has done so much for me. I’ve appreciated everything they’ve done for me, but I’m looking forward to being a Rebel next year.”
jeznez
Roar Guru
I back him, he’s shown excellent ability to learn and adapt to get to where he is. This is just the next thing he has to learn.
Chivas
Roar Rookie
And Bell is only 22, young in prop years so in three years time with the right coaching there is no reason he doesn't get there right?
jeznez
Roar Guru
Carl a tighthead where I think it's a bit easier to be taller. From Harry's article the other day - there are a few tall loosie's out there: Ethan de Groot 1.90 m 122 kg Angus Bell 1.92 m 124 kg Ofa Tu’ungafasi 1.93 m 125 kg Going back: Os du Randt 1.90 m 135 kg Andrew Sheridan 1.95 m 128 kg It can be done - just a lot more comfortable for a tall LH against a tall TH. Bell has done much better vs Malherbe than he has against Tupou.
Chivas
Roar Rookie
Thanks… one of the things I could excel at. Everyone has a super power :happy: To be fair, my brother is 18 months older and bigger and stronger and smart…so my goal in life was to beat him at everything and he wouldn’t give an inch.. by the time I was in my early 20’s I was crazy fit and kicking his butt on short and long distance…. but for example we would go for a gentle run about 8km and then we ‘d get to a decent hill and he would want to do hill sprints.. then we’d run home and on the way there was a running track, so then he wanted to do 200m sprints… the sprints I would smash him on, the hills I hated… but he hated losing to me as much as vice versa but as I said earlier running on beach, trails you name it since 11…. you get good.
Wizz
Roar Rookie
It’s elite times and yes boxers run alot doesn’t make them runners..three minutes a kilometre? That’s serious crap.
Chivas
Roar Rookie
I always wished I ran the 800… it was a bit scary for me, so stuck to the 1500m in which I competed. Anything under 3.5 for a k is very good over 10… i wish I could get close.. i can do 4.5 for 1 k… its sad. Im working at it, but its hard work now once past 50
Chivas
Roar Rookie
Boxers arent runners mate. Give us a break. 4 minute ks for 5k.. I ran in the nationals when I was young. Yes average 20k an hour… its not a sprint, its called running 3/4 pace. Id lap most people on a 12 minute run at rugby and league training and thats premier grade (amateurs), buts its not fast enough to compete with the elite runners. Been running hard out since I waa allowed to.run with adults at 11. I was useless then but hated losing… by the time I waa 19 i wwa doing a full day hay contracting over 2000 bales a day and jumping off the truck and running home to ditch the latent energy. You have to be fit and strong… The trick to keeping up a good pace is being able to adjust on the run and yeah in the last 500 m kick it up no matter how much it hurts.. easier when you have someone you are trying to beat…
jameswm
Roar Guru
10km in 30 mins is moving. 3 min kms for 10km. I was maybe 3:30 kms in my later 20s. I do have an official sub-2 800m. That's my mid distance best.
Wizz
Roar Rookie
With Slipper yes pack of cards..Eddie has to bring in Sio solid scrummager good hitter in D and can bend line.
Wizz
Roar Rookie
Well in fairness he ain't squatting with bone removed..
Wizz
Roar Rookie
Not doubting you Chivas but that seems excessively quick I remember boxing days the elites were doing 5 klms in just under 20 mins and that was moving quick but if you sprinted all ten possibly..was along time ago memory is going but yeah 20 mins for 5 was going good.
Wizz
Roar Rookie
Hanging leg raise variations are the goat for abs ...protein rich meals leave sugar virtually out salt not so bad and walk lift body weights or something and yes your abs in time will pop out.Few have them what does that tell you discipline of modern society..its healthy too.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Beasts of burden....
Chivas
Roar Rookie
Not for a while... I used to when I was running a lot. I struggle to run a couple of ks now (which is a bit sad considering I could run 10k in 30 mins when I was in my 20's) but good point I should start doing those and the stairmaster... they are good functional strength training... along with squats, deadlifts, swings.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Hammy bridges and hammy bridge isos are apparently the best for injury prevention when sprinting (my boys do athletics at a high level). Can you do proper Russian hammies/Nordics? That's some serious strengthening there.
jameswm
Roar Guru
I have no idea why it's in the elbows. Maybe from riding the new scooter - I haven't tried for a couple of months. Instead doing a core routine involving hanging leg raises, palloff presses, shoulder taps, front and side plank etc. NOT sit ups or Russian twists, not great for lower back.
Chivas
Roar Rookie
If you can use an AB wheel, V ups, planks are much easier. I still do situps and side planks and stuff for variety and layer it on top of the ab wheel, but really its my posterior chain I should really be working on... abs were jus a bit of fun which I didn't have to leave the house to do, so no excuse... like cold showers in the morning... not always fun, but quite a trip :happy:
Chivas
Roar Rookie
Yep I can from standing to flat. I can do about 5 then finish with 15-20 on my knees.. it took a while to get there.. :happy: I’m try to get to 3 sets of 20 from standing… have a ways to go. Why your elbows? My upper arms and lats are doing a little bit of work… but its my abs which burn if I haven’t done it for a while. I stopped for a month or 2 and noticed the regression. The thing with doing it from standing to flat is it hits from top to bottom, whereas on knees it was top to middle and little bottom. Its fun stretching out too, because even though its not far to fall the more you reach out the more the tension.. and its something I don’t have to go to the gym to do, same with kettle swings…
Wizz
Roar Rookie
Had a fat mate from school named him Riktor he was always on the scale.
Riktor
Roar Rookie
And Skelton a killer 10.