He’s already gatecrashed an English tea party and now Taniela Tupou has set himself the goal of “smashing” prop rival Ellis Genge in the second Test in Brisbane on Saturday.
The Wallabies cult hero was earmarked as the face of the three Test series but missed the opening victory in Perth as he recovered from a serious calf injury.
Tupou also became a dad to son Nela – his own nickname – in that time off which he says was a much-needed reset both mentally and physically.
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“It’s probably unfair saying this, but I’ve actually enjoyed these last few weeks being off, not playing,” Tupou told reporters on Thursday.
“I would have loved to have played last week and played the last weekend for the Reds, but I did not miss it one bit. I enjoyed being off the field and enjoyed not having to get ready to play…
“I’m in a good space now, ready to get out there and have a bit of fun.”
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https://twitter.com/StanSportRugby/status/1544882658680905728?s=20&t=vYmN6FEwTTIOBhKfyZWNOw
Fun if you are a Wallabies fan, not if you are an Englishman trying to tackle him.
Tupou knows he will have a target on his head as Australia’s X-factor and he will pack down against Genge, England’s working class hero who has shattered stereotypes.
“I’ve heard a lot of talk about him,” Tupou said.
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“He absolutely killed it in that comp in the UK and obviously he captains his team and as a loosehead he can run the ball, he can tackle and he can scrum…
“You know what they say, it’s not personal but it is personal. I’ll do what’s best for the team, but when you get out there you want to be better than your opposition and he’ll try to do the same thing.
“He’s going to try and give it to me and smash me and I’ll be doing exactly the same thing, get out there and give it to him. We’ll see what happens.”
TUPOU ON BECOMING A FATHER…
“Honestly, it hasn’t really hit me yet. Sometimes at training I’m running around and thinking, ‘geez, f–k’. Maybe it’s going to hit me in a few weeks’ time.
“I’m not sure, but at the moment I’m definitely going to go out there and I’ll be thinking of him when I get on the field this weekend. It’s not really about myself anymore, there’s someone else.”
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TUPOU ON HIS ACTING SKILLS…
“The boys have been giving me a bit of shit about it. We were watching State of Origin and every break there’s bang, me.
“They pay me good money, so I don’t mind doing it.”
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