Wallabies star Taniela Tupou is confident he’ll be fit for the upcoming Rugby World Cup but admits he needs matches under his belt to put his injury concerns at ease before the tournament opener.
In a dose of good news for Australian rugby fans, particularly those heading to France later this year, Tupou has outlined his plans to get back to the international arena, via club rugby, after rupturing his Achilles tendon during a Test against Ireland in November.
There were initial fears Tupou could be ruled out of this year’s World Cup, which begins for the Wallabies on September 9 with an opening clash against Georgia in Paris.
Former Wallabies coach Dave Rennie was always confident Tupou could get his body right and now the rampaging tight-head prop has given a positive update.
The Wallabies’ first Test of the year is against South Africa on July 8 in Pretoria. Australia’s final Rugby Championship match, against New Zealand, is scheduled for August 5, before a final World Cup warm-up match against France on August 27.
“Maybe around July I will be back playing some club footy,” Tupou told reporters at CommBank Stadium on Wednesday. “It’s up to Eddie [Jones] if he wants me to be part of the team. Hopefully, [I can] get some game time in club footy for Brothers.
Taniela Tupou (left) with fellow Wallabies players Angus Bell and Dave Porecki at CommBank Stadium with two Argentinian tango dancers. The Wallabies play Argentina in Sydney on July 15. Credit: Getty
“I’m focusing on trying to get that strength back on my Achilles and calf. I think I’m two weeks away from running. I can’t wait for that. I should be back on time for the World Cup.
“Everything went through my mind [after the injury]. It was my last year of a contract. Everything was on the line there. There was a lot of pressure. It was all out of my control. It took a few weeks to finally calm down. I spoke to a few people and six months later I had my contract sorted.”
Tupou will be one of Australia’s most important and influential players at the World Cup. His fitness and form will go a long way to helping the Wallabies improve on their quarter-final exit at the 2019 World Cup.
However, Tupou said it was important for him to get game time beforehand.
“I’m lucky I have a few months before the World Cup for me to get that confidence back playing club footy,” Tupou said. “If I only had a month or two weeks before the World Cup, I wouldn’t be as confident.”
Taniela Tupou says he’ll be fit for this year’s Rugby World Cup. Credit: Getty
Quizzed on whether he felt he’d reached his potential at Test level, after chalking up 47 Tests since his debut in 2017, Tupou took a moment before answering.
“No, I don’t think so,” Tupou said. “That’s something I’m working really hard towards. I don’t think I’ve done enough. Hopefully, when I am back – if I’m back in the team – I can get to the level where I think I can get to.”
Tupou, Angus Bell and Dave Porecki were on deck in Parramatta alongside two Argentinian dancers ahead of tickets being released for Australia’s Test against Michael Cheika’s Pumas side on July 15 at CommBank Stadium.
Tupou and Bell were good sports at the photo opportunity, even taking the opportunity to show off their dancing abilities in football boots.
One wrong step could have been a painful experience for the tango dancers.
Tupou has been rehabilitating alongside Bell, whose injury road is also looking a little brighter after foot surgery.
“Hopefully, I’ll be back for the Argentina Test [July 15] or South Africa Test [July 8], depending on how much club footy I play and whether Eddie wants to pick me,” Bell said.
“The other day [Tupou] poured freezing cold water from the ice bath on my back at 7am when I was completely naked on the toilet. It’s going well. He’s a funny guy and very different to me but I feel like we compliment each other. It’s good to have that training partner.”
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