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Wallaby Tupou has a 'tight' timeline in place for World Cup push

(Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Taniela Tupou concedes he’s walking a tightrope to be ready for the Rugby World Cup despite targeting a July comeback from serious injury.

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Tupou on Wednesday revealed he still won’t be running for another two weeks after tearing an Achilles tendon on last year’s spring tour to Europe.

He stopped short of suggesting it may take a leap of faith from Wallabies coach Eddie Jones to pick him in Australia’s 33-man squad for France 2023 but said he’d need game time before the global showpiece to restore his confidence.

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“It’s up to Eddie if he wants me to be a part of the team,” the powerhouse prop said.

“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.”

The Wallabies’ first Test of the year is on July 8 against South Africa in Pretoria and they have just four more Tests – against Argentina on July 15, New Zealand on July 29 and August 5 and a warm up against hosts France on August 26 ahead of their first World Cup match on September 9.

Undoubtedly the Wallabies’ most destructive front-rower when fit, Tupou candidly confessed to not having fulfilled his potential yet at Test level.

That’s the motivator driving the 27-year-old in his race against the clock.

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“That’s something I’m working really hard towards,” he said.

“Sitting back this time and looking 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 can get to a level that I think I can get to.”

Tupou believes time is on his side but doubts he can hit top form at the World Cup without any games beforehand.

“I’m lucky enough I’ve got a few months before the World Cup for me to get that confidence back playing club footy and trying to earn my way back to international level,” he said.

“But if I only had a month or two before the World Cup, I don’t think I would be as confident.”

After also being sidelined for six months last year with a calf injury, Tupou admitted he felt his world had coming crashing down when he was suffered his latest injury against Ireland last November.

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“When that happened, I didn’t know much because I was on some stuff,” he said.

“But I woke up the next morning and everything just goes through my mind – last year, a World Cup year, everything’s on the line there for me so it’s a lot of pressure.

“But it was all out of my control and it took a few weeks for me to calm down.”

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TI 2 hours ago
All Blacks player ratings vs Italy | Autumn Nations Series

Rieko took literally years to turn from a defensive liability at 13 into a guy, who’s defensively sound as it befits the position. And it all came at the cost of him being much less of an offensive threat, than what he used to be. Proctor is a natural 13, he handles, passes, and kicks way better than Rieko ever will, he just isn’t as fast.


It’s unfair to judge Tupaea on the handful of games he’s had in 2022 before he got nearly crippled by a Wallaby lock. What could Tupaea/Proctor pairing be, if they got the same amount of chances as Jordie/Rieko?


Because no matter how you spin it, playing a player outside of his natural position is a poor asset management. No matter how talented he is, he still competes against players who had years and years of practice at the position. And if said guy is so talented that he actually CAN compete against specialists, imagine how much better still he could have been, if he had all those years to iron the toothing issues at the position. It just drives me mad.


Two things I hate in rugby union beyond description: aping after league, and playing players outside of their natural position. Especially considering, that they all admit they hate it, when they’re allowed to speak freely. Owen Farrell spent 80% of his international career at 12, saying every time when asked, that he is a 10 and prefers to play at 10. Those players are literally held at a gunpoint: play out of position, or no national jersey for you.

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