'Do I know how to play rugby any more?': Joe Schmidt to meet with Taniela Tupou after extraordinary interview

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt will meet with Taniela Tupou on Tuesday as the enigmatic prop battles a mid-career crisis.

Tupou, a 29-year-old veteran of 58 Tests, should in theory be in his prime as a destructive tighthead.

He is happy off the field at the NSW Waratahs but not on it and opened up in an extraordinarily frank interview with The Sydney Morning Herald last week.

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The 'Tongan Thor' said he was "no chance" of being selected for the Wallabies against the British and Irish Lions and was too nervous to play in the carefree manner that he used to.

"Sometimes, I go out there, and I finish the game, and I'm like, 'f--- me, do I know how to play rugby any more, or what?' It feels like I just don't know what I'm doing, you know?"

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But Schmidt needs depth to match the best of four nations and will back his vast coaching experience to cajole the best out of Tupou.

"He's such a likeable young man and I want the best for Taniela," Schmidt told reporters at Rugby Australia on Monday.

"Australian rugby wants the best for Taniela because we know what he can do. On Friday night (against the Queensland Reds) there were hints that he was coming back into a little bit of form.

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"I felt that he was pretty unlucky on a couple of those scrums where he stayed down and through pretty well and didn't get reward. And got a bit unlucky, you know, reaching and making head contact (and copping a yellow card).

"He didn't go in in an uncontrolled fashion or reckless fashion. And he actually got himself into position quick and did some of the things that we're looking for."

Wallabies scrum guru Mike Cron spent time working with Tupou and the Waratahs on Monday.

"Cronno has a really strong relationship with Taniela," Schmidt said.

"We kind of share the responsibility of chatting to players."

Waratahs coach Dan McKellar felt Friday's loss to the Reds was Tupou's best game of the season and it was notable how his teammates lit up in celebration of his second half try.

"I thought he scrummaged exceptionally well but unfortunately didn't get rewarded for it," McKellar said, applauding Tupou's ability to speak openly about his struggles.

"Some story wasn't it? Incredible reflection and honesty from Nella. But I think if he plays like he did... he'll take confidence off the back of it.

"Playing against the British and Irish Lions, scrum time's going to be important.

"So that's by far his best performance. He's not a (Wallabies) selector, thankfully. I'm sure Joe will make that decision for him with the coaches but encouraging signs. He's happy, he's just the normal Nella, you know, gregarious and and full of beans around the group.

"He's just been frustrated. He's thinking about a lot of things and (the key is) probably not thinking, just simplify it and dumb it down.

"And I've had multiple conversations with him and we're just all working hard to try and find a solution. But I think there was some pleasing signs."