All Blacks and Chiefs centre Quinn Tupaea says it will be a “long time” before he can “let go” of the clear out from Darcy Swain that has sidelined him for the past six months.
The 23-year-old is still on the mend following the clear out from the Wallabies lock that ended his season last year and could have cost him a place in the All Blacks’ Rugby World Cup squad.
“Tough watch“
Swain targeted the leg of the centre during the first Bledisloe Cup Test of 2022, which New Zealand won 39-37.
The Wallabies lock was yellow-carded during the match for his indiscretion but was cited afterwards and suspended for six weeks.
“I’ve watched it a few times,” Tupaea told 1news.co.nz.
“It’s a pretty tough watch.
This looks nasty from Swain and rightly carded.
Law 9.20.d: 'A player may lever the jackler out of the contest at the ruck but must not drop their weight onto them or target the lower limbs.'#AUSvNZL pic.twitter.com/JPNxQldtdh
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) September 15, 2022
“I always think about what could have happened if I didn’t get cleaned out in the first place or if I didn’t jackal or just stuff like leading up to it and after.”
Six months on from the incident and still recovering, Tupaea concedes that he is still “disappointed about the whole thing” and holds resentment towards Swain.
“I’m still pretty angry about it. It’s been tough to let it go – I wouldn’t wish this injury on anyone,” he added.
“It’s a terrible injury to go through.
“It’s probably going to be a long time before I can let it go.”
Race for a World Cup spot
The injury has put Tupaea’s hopes of securing a World Cup squad place in serious doubt, as he will miss the entire Super Rugby season.
He will have a brief window in the NPC to stake his claim for a spot, but with the competition in the centres, he is facing a tough challenge.
“Before I got injured, obviously, it was my goal to go to the Rugby World Cup, but with the All Blacks’ midfield stock at the moment, it’s pretty congested, and I’ll be playing no Super Rugby,” he said.
“I’ll be back in time playing for when the World Cup is around, but whether I make it… I’m not sure.
“It is a goal of mine, but it’s just whether it’s a realistic goal.”
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