Tupou on fear, faith and France

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

“It’s funny because I just said to Bobby [Valentini} today at training this is the last dance for me… but hopefully it’s not my last time, and I’ll definitely be able to put my hands up to play Wallabies again.

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

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

In April, Tupou lost form for the Waratahs so dramatically that he candidly confessed he wasn’t sure how to play the game he has dominated since his teenage years in Tonga. He feared his Wallabies career could be over.

Tupou eventually fought back to play for the Wallabies in the victorious third Test against the Lions, following an outstanding performance for the First Nations and Pasifika team. Tupou is back to form and feels far happier on and off the field. What happened?

“I prayed, I prayed a lot, when I went through those rough times, I just felt like I didn’t know what to do,” Tupou said.

“I went to God, as I do most times, but obviously, at times, you forget to do it, so around those tough times, I prayed and asked for help, and I think he helped me.”

After earning back his place for the Wallabies, starting five out of six Rugby Championship Tests and playing England and Italy in Europe, Tupou is confronting a sense of expectation that awaits him in Paris.

Racing is a club that comes with huge pressure. That environment has helped players like Finn Russell and Dan Carter, but hindered the likes of like Siya Kolisi and Owen Farrell.

“There’s definitely expectation there to perform, going into a new environment, it’s hard trying to earn people’s trust, and those are the things I thought about,” Tupou said.

“It takes a while to get to know different people and obviously the language, but I love a good challenge, I’m looking forward to it. I think it’s going to be a good bit of change, obviously Australia is all I know.

”I know there are expectations, and sometimes I struggle to live up to those expectations. I think the more I think about it, the worse it’ll get for me.

“I know for me, if I just let it happen, don’t think about it and just get out there and do it, have fun, do it, it’ll come. When I think about it too much, it’ll affect the way I perform. 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 a charity Youth in Union.

Tupou wanted to return to the places that he once knew. He gave out as many Wallabies jerseys and gear as he could carry on the plane to inspire children back home. As a young boy, did he ever imagine running out at the Stade de France?

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“No, young Nela just wouldn’t believe any of this, 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 never could have imagined I would ever become one.”

Against France, in the city he now calls home, Tupou has another chance to live out his dreams.