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Refreshed Tupou rates injury a blessing

3 minute read

Recalled Wallabies prop Taniela Tupou reckons his injury lay-off has revived him mentally and physically.

TANIELA TUPOU
TANIELA TUPOU Picture: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

A candid Taniela Tupou says "he didn't miss rugby one bit" while out with a calf injury he considers the best thing that could have happened to him.

It's bad news for England though ahead of Saturday's second Test in Brisbane, with the world-class prop fit again and declaring he's "ready to play" following his recall.

The Queensland Reds tank welcomed the birth of his first child last Friday and was in hospital with his partner while Australia beat England 30-28 in Perth on Saturday.

He also missed the final chunk of the Super Rugby season for the Reds thanks to a calf injury in May he said came at the right time.

"Being injured, that was the best thing to happen to me," he said.

"Mentally and physically, I was ready for something different and then that happened.

"Tell you what, it's probably unfair to say this, but I've actually enjoyed these last few weeks being off, not playing ... I did not miss it one bit.

"But I'm ready to play now.

"I've done a lot of work, I'm in a good space and ready to get out there and have a bit of fun."

The Australian pack fared well despite Tupou's absence in Perth, where fellow tighthead Allan Alaalatoa suffered an early concussion that will keep him out of the Brisbane Test.

Angus Bell, 21, and veteran fellow prop James Slipper were excellent as Australia broke an eight-game losing streak against Eddie Jones' men.

Tupou didn't watch much of it, but knows what to expect after second-rower Darcy Swain took the bait and delivered a headbutt that will see him miss the next two Tests.

"Who knows, I might throw something, or maybe not," Tupou said when asked what he'd do when faced by the inevitable English niggle.

"But I'll probably stay out of it, because I don't have a good history of cards, I don't want to see another card."

If that's a sign of maturity he said it probably wasn't due to his new status, admitting it's yet to hit him.

"Sometimes at training I'm running around and think, 'geez I'm a father'," he said.

"Maybe it's going to hit me in a few days time.

"But I'll definitely be going out there thinking of him; it's not really about myself anymore."

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