Wallabies and Melbourne Rebels prop Taniela Tupou says if he has to hurt his former teammates at the Reds this weekend to make them win, then he has to do it.
Tupou, who moved from the Reds last year to join the Rebels for this year’s Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific season, says facing his good mates was something he’d struggled with in the past.
He says he used to find it hard to go against guys he had known for a long time, especially his mates, but now he has gotten better over time.
The 27-year-old Wallabies front-rower says he will not let the personal nature of the match-up become a distraction.
Tupou says coming into this week he will just try and focus on what they do and do whatever it takes to get them the win.
Tupou says he watched the Reds’ game against the Chiefs last week and they are looking really good and adds that this week is just another game.
The Rebels will take on the Reds at 8.35pm Friday in Melbourne.
Meanwhile, the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua will take on the Chiefs at 6.30pm Saturday in Waikato.
In other matches this weekend, the Crusaders will host the Hurricanes at 6.05pm Friday, Western Force will take on Moana Pasifika at 11pm Friday, the Highlanders will host the Brumbies at 3.35pm Saturday and the Waratahs will play the Blues 8.35pm Saturday.
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