Tupou on fear, faith and France

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“I’ll always put my hands up for the Wallabies and I obviously need to perform well and stay healthy in France to make that easier, but if they need me, I’ll be there at a moment’s notice,” Tupou said.

“It’s funny because today at practice I told Bobby[Valentini]I said it was the last dance for me… but I hope it’s not my last dance and I’ll definitely be able to put my hands up to play the Wallabies again.[Valentini}todayattrainingthisisthelastdanceformebuthopefullyit’snotmylasttimeandI’lldefinitelybeabletoputmyhandsuptoplayWallabiesagain[Valentini}todayattrainingthisisthelastdanceformebuthopefullyit’snotmylasttimeandI’lldefinitelybeabletoputmyhandsuptoplayWallabiesagain

“Everything I have now is because of Australia and we have family there and after so many games I played for the Wallabies with my brothers,” Tupou said.

“God knows how much I love this team, you know it hurts when we lose because I love this team. It’s been an absolute privilege and an honor and I hope this isn’t the end of it.”

In April, Tupou lost form so dramatically against the Waratahs that he openly admitted it. didn’t know how to play the game He dominated since his teenage years in Tonga. He feared his Wallabies career could be over.

Tupou eventually pushed on to play for the Wallabies in the victorious third Test against the Lions, following an outstanding performance from the First Nations and Pacifica side. Tupou is back to his old form and feels much happier on and off the field. What happened?

“I prayed, I prayed a lot, when I was going through those hard times I felt like I didn’t know what to do,” Tupou said.

“I went to God like I do most of the time, but obviously, sometimes you forget to do that, so I prayed and asked for help during those hard times, and I think he helped me, too.”

After regaining his place with the Wallabies, starting five of the six Rugby Championship Tests and playing against England and Italy in Europe, Tupou faces a sense of expectation awaiting him in Paris.

Racing is a club with a lot of pressure on it. This environment helped players like Finn Russell and Dan Carter, but hindered players like Siya Kolisi and Owen Farrell.

“There’s definitely an expectation of performing there, going into a new environment, it’s hard trying to gain people’s trust and those were things I was thinking about as well,” Tupou said.

“It takes some time to get to know different people and of course the language, but I love a good challenge, I’m looking forward to it. I think it will be a good change, obviously Australia is all I know.”

“I know there are expectations, and sometimes I have a hard time living up to those expectations. I think the more I think about it, the worse it will get for me.”

“I know for me, if I just let it happen, don’t think about it and just go out there and do it, have fun, do it, it will come. When I think about it too much, it will affect my performance. But you live and you learn.”

“It wasn’t my dream to play rugby professionally, it just happened.”

Taniela Tupou

Before the spring tour, Tupou spent time in Tonga visiting friends and family and helping the charity Youth in Union.

Tupou wanted to return to the places he once knew. He handed out as many Wallabies jerseys and equipment as he could carry on the plane to inspire children at home. As a young boy, had he ever dreamed of running at the Stade de France?

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“No, young Nela wouldn’t have believed any of it because it wasn’t my dream to play rugby professionally, it just happened, I was a big fan of the Wallabies as a kid, but I could never have imagined that one day I would make it to the Wallabies.”

Tupou now has another chance to make his dreams come true against France in the city he calls home.