Wallabies prop Taniela Tupou is refusing to rush his return from an Achilles injury as the Rugby Championship continues to draw closer.
The powerful prop had earmarked July as his intended return date following the season-ending injury that sidelined him for the entirety of the Super Rugby Pacific season.
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However, with the opener against the Springboks just over two weeks away, Tupou concedes time is not on his side.
“I haven’t trained with the team yet. I haven’t done eight-on-eight scrum, trained with the team,” Tupou said to reporters on Thursday.
“Look, I want to be back on the field as soon as I can. But, then again, it’s a big injury Achilles, I don’t want to rush it.
“I’d love to be a part of the team going to South Africa, but again I can’t be too hard on myself because Eddie hasn’t named his team yet. I want to make sure my name is there at least before I talk about playing in South Africa.”
Club Rugby remains his most likely avenue of return with Brisbane club side Brothers, with fellow Wallabies hopeful Folau Fainga'a named for Sydney Uni to face Randwick on Saturday.
Tupou joked about pulling on the myrtle green jersey to please Jones, willing to do whatever it takes.
“I’m coming back and playing for Randwick because Eddie said if you play for Randwick that’s your ticket to the World Cup,” he said with a grin at Coogee Oval, the same field Jones honed his craft.
“Whatever it takes. If I have to sleep here on the field, I will.”
Whilst the recovery from the injury is physically taxing, it's the mental side that Tupou is looking to control given the nature of the injury, collapsing in a heap after trying to take a regulation hit-up against Ireland.
“It was tough at the start because I did it trying to take off,” he said. “Coming back, starting to run, it’s all in my head.
“The Achilles is strong. I’ve done everything, I’ve lifted heavy than ever, but it still plays with the head. I feel good, but I know I’ll struggle when I get back and train with the team.”
