Struggling Wallabies prop Tupou worried he'll miss Lions series
SYDNEY, May 8 (Reuters) - Wallabies prop Taniela Tupou admits his performances this season have not been up to scratch and concedes that he might not make the Australia squad for the British & Irish Lions series in July and August.
The powerful Tongan-born tighthead moved to the New South Wales Waratahs for this season after the demise of the Melbourne Rebels but has been relegated to the bench after turning in a series of disappointing displays in Super Rugby.
"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 told the Sydney Morning Herald.
"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."
The 28-year-old said he has received plenty of support from the coaches at the Waratahs as well as Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt and hoped he could reward them with an upturn in his form.
"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," he said.
"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 earned the nickname "Tongan Thor" as a rampaging schoolboy forward in New Zealand before moving to Australia to be with his brother.
He has played 58 tests for the Wallabies since making his debut against Scotland in 2017 and is on one of Rugby Australia's most lucrative contracts, which is reported to earn him A$1 million ($641,000) a year.
That deal expires at the end of the year and he wants to stay on for the 2027 World Cup on home soil, but knows the offer of a new contract is also dependent on his form.
"It means so much to play for the Wallabies," he said. "This is the country that gave me so much. They gave me opportunities, me and my family."
($1 = 1.5601 Australian dollars)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
41 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Footy star reveals the incredibly strict lifestyle changes that have left him in better shape now than when he was playing
Footy star Thomas Baulch, who is also the CEO of fitness company Prime Train, has opened up on the lifestyle changes he has made which have helped him improve his health, wellbeing and foster new friendships. Baulch is well known among footy circles for his Instagram account where he helps others get in the shape of their life. The fitness trainer, who has over 45,000 followers on his personal Instagram account, is also a well-established footballer, having played in the WAFL for East Perth, NEAFL and the VFL for Aspley and Port Melbourne. The footy player, who is often dubbed 'PrimeTrain' himself, regularly publishes clips of himself playing footy on social media, battling with opponents while kicking goals. As part of his fitness business, Baulch, a midfielder, has also had clients including Brownlow Medallists Patrick Cripps and Tom Mitchell. In recent weeks, the 21-year-old appears to have been enjoying a getaway in Bali with several friends. The Queenslander, who was born in Gladstone, shared a picture of himself enjoying a meal with two friends and fellow fitness coaches, Keenan Chapman and Ned Wagner. The trio grinned at the camera as they prepared to tuck into a delicious looking meal, while Baulch captioned the post: 'Final supper with the crew in Bali for a while. 'I've been on a journey this year... at the start of the year, I said to myself it was time to lock in. 'It was lonely for a while...' At the start of January, he also shared two pictures of his own body transformation, showcasing his shredded physique on his company's Instagram account, which also has 169,000 followers. And on Tuesday, he revealed the huge lifestyle changes he had made that have seen him improve his physical and mental wellbeing. 'No alcohol, no caffeine, no nicotine, no hookups, wake up at 5am every day, gym every day, no vaping, no processed food, no substances,' he said. 'I would rather sit with a few who get the real me than stand in a crowd that never did. 'Small circles win.' In March, it was announced that 'Prime Train' was now set to join up with Division Three club, The Basin in the Eastern League, with the footy star going on to make his debut for the club in May. 'Thomas is a perfect example of what hard work and dedication can do for you, and is a great role model for the younger generation coming through, with his educational social media videos providing constant and relevant information to those that follow him,' the Basin spokesperson said on Baulch. 'Admired by so many people already within our community, we couldn't resist the opportunity for Prime Train to don the red and green, and cannot wait for the opportunity for him to run out on May the 10th vs. Scoresby and show The Basin what a star he is.'
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
AFL WAG Brit Selwood shares emotional tribute to her 'magic' sons after losing three close family members in a matter of just months
Brit Selwood has shared a moving Instagram post expressing gratitude for her sons, as she continues to process the grief of losing three close family members in just a matter of months. The 32-year-old wife of former AFL star Joel Selwood said her boys Alfie and Joey have been a source of 'laughter, light and love' following the deaths of her brothers-in-law Troy and Adam Selwood, and more recently, her grandmother. 'I love you boys, you are magic right now,' Brit captioned a series of candid photos and videos featuring her children smiling and playing. The post quickly attracted an outpouring of support from friends, fans and fellow WAGS. Rebecca Judd, Lana Wilkinson and Brooke Warne were among the stars who flooded the comments with love heart emojis and heartfelt messages. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'Children get us through the toughest of times. Sending so much love to your family,' wrote one follower. Another added: 'Hold them tight honey so much love to you and your family xx.' A third said simply: 'Thinking of you and your family Brit. Xx' A forth commented: 'Sending so much love', while others praised the 'unconditional love' that children bring during moments of despair. The Selwood family has been rocked by a string of tragedies, beginning with the devastating death of Joel's twin brother Troy Selwood, who died by suicide at the age of 40 on February 4 at a property in Geelong. Just three months later, the heartbreak deepened with the passing of Troy's identical twin, Adam Selwood, who died in Perth on May 17 at the age of 41. Adam was a former premiership player for the West Coast Eagles and much-loved figure in the AFL community. As the family attempted to come to terms with their unimaginable grief, Brit shared another sorrowful update just weeks later - the passing of her beloved grandmother. 'Rest peacefully Grandma. You were a great grandma,' she wrote in a simple but emotional tribute. Police have confirmed Adam's death, which came just three months after his twin Troy passed away, is not being treated as suspicious. Joel, a Geelong premiership captain, took to Instagram following the tragedy to publish a series of pictures of himself and Adam and his other brother Scott. He captioned the post: 'Rest up, love you brother. Look after each other.' Last month, the footy great celebrated his 37th birthday - and his wife marked the occasion with a simple post on social media. Brit posted a black and white photo of the family alongside the caption: 'Happy Birthday @joelselwood14. We love you.' Adam passed away a week before he was supposed to take part in HBF Run for a Reason, raising funds for mental health charity zero2hero in memory of Troy. A group of his closest friends decided to finish what he had started and complete the race. The group running included former players Drew Banfield and Quinten Lynch, as well as current stars Brad Dalziell, Travis Gasper, Sharrod Wellingham and Matt Rosa. The Eagles star had raised more than $21,000 at the time of his death, but that number has risen to more than $76,000 on Sunday. Adam made 187 appearances for the Eagles during his career and played a key role in helping the club win the 2006 AFL Grand Final. He joined the footy club in the 2002 National Draft and would enjoy a 10-year career in footy's top-flight competition. Adam mostly played as a tagger before hanging up his boots in 2013. After his retirement in 2013, Adam would continue to work in football taking up a role as a development coach with the West Coast. He'd later become the inaugural head of the Eagles women's footy side and was pivotal in bringing key AFLW players to the club. For confidential 24-hour support in Australia, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 Lifeline Crisis Text Service : 0477 13 11 14 Beyond Blue : 1300 224 636 13 Yarn (an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander crisis support line): 13 92 76 Suicide Call Back Service : 1300 659 467
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
Socceroos confident of completing World Cup assignment against experimental Japan
When he was first introduced as the coach of the Socceroos, just days after Graham Arnold's decision to step down and with just weeks to prepare for his first qualifiers in charge, Tony Popovic was adamant there was enough time to right the ship and qualify automatically for the World Cup. Now, as Australia's men prepare to meet Japan in Perth, knowing that a win will all but guarantee them a place in North America, the coach has the chance to deliver on that promise. Numerous permutations will govern what could happen in Group C of Asian qualifying in the coming days – there still exists a scenario in which Indonesia could qualify automatically – but the straightforward scenario for the Socceroos is to just beat the Samurai Blue. Do that, and they will ensure they'll enter the final matchday a minimum of three points clear of the Saudis and be able to count on a goal difference cushion that currently, largely thanks to the Green Falcons' remarkable profligacy in their eight games, sits at nine. 'We certainly are aware of what these games mean to us, they mean to Australia and to every football fan out there supporting the Socceroos,' said Popovic. 'We've taken an approach, window by window, to get the results we need, to keep improving our game, and we've maintained that through this preparation. Every game is significant for the Socceroos. But, obviously, these last two games, for automatic qualification, we know what we need to do; we need to put that into action, and we're confident we can do that.' But while the permutations may be relatively simple, beating Japan is anything but. It's probably one of the most difficult task in all of football right now – Hajime Moriyasu's side are unbeaten in their last 12 games and have lost just twice over the last two years, with wins over the likes of Germany and Turkey, as well as a first-ever away win in Saudi Arabia, recorded during this spell. They became the first nation to punch their tickets to 2026 during the March window, beating Bahrain to take an insurmountable lead atop Group C with three games to spare. The World Cup has never been won by a nation outside South America or Europe before, but Japan are shaping as genuine contenders to deliver on their promise to break this trend. The Socceroos haven't beaten Japan since 2009, when Tim Cahill scored a brace to secure victory at the MCG. Their last meeting came in Popovic's second game in charge back in October, when Australia were besieged but held out for a 1-1 draw. In hindsight, after the whirlwind of the coach's arrival, that result did far more than get a point for the side. It stabilised them and gave them a result to lay at the foundation of their efforts to build something. And the coach believes they're better since then. 'The growth and development and the way the team has evolved are clear,' said Popovic. 'We all see that. We understand there is a lot more growth in us, but we're a much better team than we were in October.' In a boost for the Socceroos, they meet a less-than-full-strength Japan in Perth. Less than half of the squad that featured for Moriyasu during the March window have made the trip, with the likes of Kaoru Mitoma, Ritsu Doan, Ayase Ueda, and Ao Tanaka absent. In their place, established figures such as Liverpool's Wataru Endō and Real Sociedad's Takefusa Kubo will need to provide a steadying hand to a squad featuring more potential debutants – eight – than it does players with more than 10 international caps, seven. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion But such is the growing strength and rising depth of Japanese football that even this lesser-heralded cohort possesses players signed to top European clubs. Domestic-based youth such as Junnosuke Suzuki and Ryūnosuke Satō, meanwhile, may not yet be too well known outside their homeland but the J1 League has long since established itself as the most consistently strong league in Asia. It was only last month that Kawasaki Frontale, sitting midtable in the J1 League, knocked out an Al Nassr side featuring Cristiano Ronaldo on their way to the final of the Asian Champions League Elite. Kōta Takai started that day and is in line to make his third appearance for the Samurai Blue in Perth. And with 2026 locked in, it's a side full of players looking to show their worth. 'The way we are going to play, I won't be changing anything in terms of mindset,' said Moriyasu. 'We play each game one by one. We take each game seriously. But still, we need to strengthen our squad. We need to expand our squad. We need to prove that Japan still has a lot more talent coming through. I would like to show the world that we still have lots of players who are coming through. I would like my players to shine on the very best stage tomorrow.'
