‘Do I understand how to play rugby?’: Wallaby’s peculiar admission forward of Lions amid disaster of self belief

Three years in the past Taniela Tupou half-jokingly stated, “show me the money”. Rugby Australia did, however midway during the 2025 Super Rugby season, the Tongan Thor fears being dropped for the Lions after a disaster of self belief, which has left him wondering whether or not the 58-Test Wallaby can play rugby.

“My focus now is just trying to play well for the Waratahs because at the moment I’m not performing, and it was a goal of mine to play against the Lions. But if I’m being honest with myself, I’m no chance of making that team, because of how I’ve been performing this year,” Tupou informed The Sydney Morning Herald in a candid interview.

“I’m at peace with it, I know it’s going to hurt, but l told myself, ‘you’re just not performing, and it’s just not good enough to be picked for the Lions [series]’. So I picture in my head, getting a call saying I’m not in the team, and I’m just accepting the fact that I’m not getting picked.

“Obviously, it’s hard. Since I’ve been at the Wallabies, the only reason [I haven’t been selected in the past] is because of injuries, and to get dropped for Lions would be tough. But at least I know the reason, you know?”

While there’s been a number of causes to get eager about Australian rugby during the last yr, together with the development of the Wallabies beneath Joe Schmidt and the better competitiveness of the Super Rugby facets, Tupou’s struggles were one of the vital few authentic problematic spaces forward of the Lions collection.

Capable of being essentially the most damaging prop on this planet, Tupou has been a shell of himself since becoming a member of the Waratahs.

While he was once not worthy and spent extra time at the deck than ever ahead of on the Rebels in 2024 after a few injury-ridden years, Tupou has been are compatible and to be had all season for the Waratahs. The factor is the $1.2 million guy has been lacking in motion.

While Eddie Jones informed The Roar he would do the entirety he may just to stay Tupou in Australian rugby, and Schmidt stated the prop’s enjoy can be necessary, his shape problems have intended he has but to obtain an be offering from Rugby Australia in spite of being off contract at yr’s finish.

The Roar understands a number of suitors, together with in England and France, are all in favour of Tupou, however the generational ability gained’t be rushed into a call as he holds out hope of a sort go back.

“I really think it’s mental, because the performance is not there and I start to second-guess myself, and start asking questions. ‘Can I do this? Is this for me?’ Or, ‘am I good?’ You start playing in your head,” Tupou informed The Herald.

“Now I’m going into games thinking, ‘oh, I have to do this, I have to do that’. I have this list in my head, then I go into the game and I’m not able to take any of the opportunities, and it upsets me.

“I remember at my best, I was just a kid having fun. There was no pressure.

“I was just out there doing my thing, and I think I’m just putting a lot of pressure on myself at the moment. And I go into some games thinking, ‘oh, there’s no pressure’ and ‘I’m just going to get there and enjoy it’, but then I’m just lying to myself.”

Asked what he idea was once going mistaken along with his recreation, Tupou stated he was once scared to do what got here naturally to him prior to now.

“I don’t know what it is, after round one, I was like, maybe I’m slowly getting into it. Then round two, round three, round four, round five, and I’m like, OK, there’s something that’s not right here, and sometimes, I go out there, and I finish the game, and I’m like, ‘f— me, do I know how to play rugby any more, or what?’” he stated.

“It feels like I just don’t know what I’m doing, you know? I’m nervous to do things I used to do well, I used to just be running the ball, and just offloading, and just able to do things.

“But I’m nervous to throw a pass. I don’t know what it is, but I hope I can find a solution, because I want to play well for the Tahs, and I want to hopefully get back in the Wallabies one day.”

Taniela Tupou says he’s been “nervous” to do what in most cases comes naturally to him at the rugby box in 2025. (Photo by means of Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Tupou’s peculiar and candid admission comes with the Waratahs’ season spiralling out of keep watch over.

Having gained 4 in their opening 5 fits, the Waratahs at the moment are in 9th with a month to move after successful simply certainly one of their previous 5 video games.

Although Tupou’s struggles aren’t the one reason why the Waratahs have slipped down the ratings, Dan McKellar would have was hoping his skilled Test prop would have led to some carnage, specifically on the scrum.

Instead, the Waratahs’ scrum has merely been secure with Tupou at the box, whilst most effective Angus Bell and Langi Gleeson have constantly made inroads with ball-in-hand.

Tupou admitted he had even shied clear of contacted Schmidt as a result of the impending collection.

“The other day, I wanted to reach out to him [for] some help, but I didn’t want to because, obviously, he’s getting closer at the end of the season, and it’s getting closer for him to pick his team for the Lions, and I didn’t want to … I don’t know, I was like, I’ll leave him alone, I’ll just get some help somewhere,” Tupou stated.

The Tongan-born prop, who become a schoolboy sensation in New Zealand ahead of signing with the Queensland Reds after idolising Quade Cooper as a teenager, added that it wasn’t misplaced on him that his time within the gold jersey wasn’t assured.

“I’m starting to think, one of these tours, one of these camps, it could be my last,” he stated.

“I started thinking like that a year or two ago, and every time I get a chance to play with the Wallabies, I really, enjoy it, because I’m getting old …. so it means a lot to me to play.”

Taniela Tupou says he’s no longer certain if he’ll earn variety for the Wallabies towards the Lions. (Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile by means of Getty Images)

Tupou will come off the bench for the Waratahs in Friday evening’s must-win conflict towards his former facet, the Queensland Reds.

Reds lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, who performed along Tupou on the Rebels and Reds, stated on Wednesday the Wallabies wanted the prop to rediscover his shape for the country to be an opportunity towards the Lions.

“If there’s any chance we have in winning a Lions series and home World Cup (in 2027), he has to be involved,” he informed newshounds in Brisbane.

“We go through times when our form dips. He’s only human, no exception.

“For the Wallabies to do well … you’ve got to include him, I think everyone knows that.

“Get behind him and support him because we know that at his best, there’s not many that come close.”