Exclusive column: Taniela Tupou on the lessons learned from Auckland sin binning

IT was far from the homecoming Reds wreckingball Taniela Tupou - who completed high school in Auckland - was hoping for after watching his teammates surrender to the Blues from the sin bin.

THE 10 minutes I sat freezing in the sin bin under a blanket went very slowly last week and every moment you think you could be out on the field making a difference.

That tough period against the Blues in Auckland was another valuable lesson for me because you do feel so helpless.

You can’t make excuses as a Queensland Reds player.

Back at training this week I spoke to (coach) Brad Thorn and we agreed the team can’t afford to have these moments.

Taniela Tupou jogs to the sideline after being sin binned against the Blues. Picture: AAP

I definitely did extras on my tackling technique because being lazy and not using your arms more obviously when tackling with the shoulder can put the team in a difficult position.

We all have different motivations for individual games.

Last week was my first game at Eden Park in the city where I went to school and I’d been looking forward to performing there all year.

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It didn’t go to plan but I did have the privilege of speaking to Jerome Kaino from the Blues after the game.

He still remembered the chubby, fat bloke (me) who came to watch Blues training as a schoolboy.

The Reds boys had a good start to the season and we really want to finish strongly against the Melbourne Rebels.

Taniela Tupou was much happier at training. Picture: AAP

Our captain Scott Higginbotham has told us we must show our best to beat another Australian team and the man opposite you.

You look at Duncan Paia’aua up against Billy Meakes in the centres and it’s a chance to show what’s he got.

Caleb Timu has made awesome progress this season to play for the Wallabies. He’ll take on the Rebels backrow and it’s the same all over the field.

The Rebels will be coming hard at us because they are chasing a finals berth but we will be ready.

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Originally published as Exclusive column: Taniela Tupou on the lessons learned from Auckland sin binning