The NSW Waratahs’ season is still alive, but Taniela Tupou’s lack of form remains a huge concern for the Wallabies less than two months out from the Lions opener.

After taking a couple of steps forward in recent weeks, the 29-year-old took one backwards against the Western Force on Saturday night.

The giant tight-head prop was sent to the sin bin early in the second half for an attempted trip on Wallabies teammate Hamish Stewart that Justin Harrison described as “crazy”.

“Why would you stick your leg out like that?” Harrison said on Stan Sport’s coverage.

Taniela Tupou was shown a yellow card for a clear attempted trip on Hamish Stewart. (Photo by Mark Kolbe Photography/Getty Images)

Ultimately, the yellow card didn’t cost the Waratahs as the Force fluffed their lines during a terrible second half that led to coach Simon Cron saying, “we were probably our own worst enemies”.

Tupou made his way back onto the field midway through the second half, and while he initially had some more success at the scrum, he was later pinged for angling during a 66th minute attacking scrum in front of the Force’s posts with the Waratahs trailing 17-14. Moments later, Waratahs coach Dan McKellar replaced the Wallaby.

Despite Tupou’s poor second half, a penalty to Jack Bowen sent the game into Super Point.

The Waratahs then capitalised on two missed penalty attempts from the Force, with Jamie Adamson breaking the home side’s line to put the visitors firmly on the attack. With the Waratahs finally presented quick ball, Bowen called for the ball and the fly-half gave Darby Lancaster just enough space to score out wide.

The 22-17 win kept the Waratahs in the finals mix ahead of the final round, with McKellar’s men needing to upset the Blues at Eden Park, and hope Moana Pasifika also lose, to scrape into the top six.

After questioning his side’s professionalism only a week ago, McKellar described the win as “massive”.

“We’ve had a rough few weeks and you feel for the players, reviews are always honest, and they have to be because we want to get better, but their attitude has been excellent and we’ve bounced back and tonight we can have a couple of quiet beers and celebrate a good win,” he said.

“It wasn’t pretty, it won’t go down as a classic, but it’s four points in the bank and we stay alive.”

NSW Waratahs celebrate following their late win over the Western Force at HBF Park on May 24, 2025. (Photo by Travis Hayto/Getty Images)

The odds of the Waratahs taking down the Blues are however remote.

The last time the Waratahs won at Eden Park was in 2009, while last year’s Super Rugby champions will be fresh after enjoying a much needed week off after being toppled by Moana Pasifika a week earlier.

McKellar said he would have to manage his side well ahead of the must-win clash across the ditch.

“I think we’ll have a pretty light week,” he said.

“We fly back tomorrow, it’s obviously a long trip over here so we’ll make sure we have a big focus on recovery.

“You’ve just got to go over there and be tactically smart with how you play.

“They’re a quality side and they’ve got threats across the park, so if you want to try and beat them at their game, you’ll come second best.

“So we’ve got to be smart around how we approach it as a coaching group to give the boys the best chance to go over there and achieve something pretty special.”

The Waratahs will likely regain Andrew Kellaway for the match, with the versatile Test back ruled out of Saturday’s Super Point win over the Force with sickness.

Whether he starts on the wing or returns to fullback remains to be seen, but the Waratahs’ attack was almost non-existent. Indeed, two of their three tries came off the back of intercepts.

But for the Waratahs to have any chance of upsetting the Blues, McKellar will need Tupou to quickly rediscover some of his best rugby.

Otherwise it might not just be the Waratahs’ last match of the Super Rugby season, it could be Tupou’s too.