Wallabies handed No.10 blow as Tupou finds joy again in gold
Updated ,first published
It has been a week of contrasting fortunes and emotions for two Queensland products, Carter Gordon and Taniela Tupou, before the Wallabies’ next assignment against France at Suncorp Stadium.
Gordon, back in the No.10 jersey against Ireland last weekend, cut a dejected figure in the lobby of the Australian team hotel on Tuesday in Brisbane after being ruled out of Saturday’s Test with a calf injury.
Gordon was replaced in the second half of Australia’s 33-31 defeat with what was thought to be cramps. However, scans revealed a calf strain, sidelining him for both the France Test and next weekend’s clash with Italy in Perth. Reserve back-rower Tom Hooper has also been ruled out with a shoulder injury.
Gordon’s absence, after an encouraging performance in Sydney, leaves Ben Donaldson in the box seat to start at five-eighth against France, while Brumbies playmaker Declan Meredith is in line for a potential debut off the bench.
“Devastated for him,” Wallabies back-rower Fraser McReight said of Gordon’s withdrawal.
“We’ve got Donno and Declan, who had a great Super [Rugby] season and they’re pushing their case. We’ve still got some continuity there. Injuries suck but they’re part of the beast.”
The setback is particularly cruel given Saturday would have been Gordon’s first Test in his home town of Brisbane. Injuries have interrupted the career of the 25-year-old just as he has appeared ready to establish himself.
It was Tupou who was spotted consoling Gordon as the playmaker wheeled his luggage through the hotel foyer, wondering when his next opportunity in a gold jersey would arrive.
Tupou knows the feeling well.
Being back in Brisbane, where he burst onto the scene with the Queensland Reds a decade ago, feels a world away from Paris, where he is based with Racing 92 after leaving Australian rugby for what he describes as the career reset he needed.
The prop will come off the bench against French players he packs down against most weekends in the Top 14. He has resisted offering too much intelligence on the opposition, preferring instead to savour taking part in a Wallabies fixture in Brisbane, which seemed unlikely 12 months ago.
“It’s good to be home,” Tupou said. “I didn’t realise how much I missed Australia until I came back.
“I never wanted to leave Australia. I wanted to stay in Australia until I retired. It wasn’t an easy decision to make, but I’m so glad I left because it was the best one for me.”
Tupou has learned a lot since he embarked on his French adventure last year. He admits he embraced the lifestyle with a little too much enthusiasm, particularly the food.
Over the first few months, Tupou says he quickly developed a taste for baguettes and other delicious local food, before deciding they weren’t doing his body any favours.
“I was into it the first few months and then I realised it’s not going to help me,” he said.
Tupou has surprised Wallabies teammates by taking up golf – “I think my golf is actually better than my English” – and realised he was somewhat of a rookie when it came to the dark arts of scrummaging in France.
One of the most destructive props in world rugby, Tupou said he arrived with plenty to learn.
“To be honest, I struggled a bit when I arrived. The French know how to cheat in the scrum,” Tupou said. “I thought it’d be easy and I went there and was I wrong. It takes time to get used to it. [There is a] licence around what you want to do.
“Over here, I’m one of the big guys. Over there, I’m one of the small guys. Just trying to adjust to that.
“I did cheat a bit. They do it differently over there. I’ve got a couple [of tricks] up my sleeve to use this weekend.”
Tupou is content with his move to the northern hemisphere. After an encouraging performance off the bench against Ireland, he hopes to play an increasingly important role against France and Italy. His impact will be crucial for a Wallabies side desperate for a win after losing eight of their past nine Tests.
In May last year, Tupou told this masthead he had little hope of featuring in the Wallabies’ series against the British and Irish Lions.
He missed the opening Test in Brisbane but forced his way into the side for the third Test in Sydney, which Australia won.
When he left for France, Tupou accepted his Test career might be over.
Instead, coach Joe Schmidt has continued to hand him chances, and returning to Brisbane has only reinforced how much representing Australia still means to him.
“Thank God I left to go to France because I needed a change,” Tupou said. “I started to enjoy myself again and I’m just grateful being back here with the Wallabies. My head was not where it should have been.
“I always put my hand up to play for the Wallabies. I love this team and whether I am playing or not playing, I’d love to see the Wallabies do well.”
Tom Decent is the chief sports writer for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.
