KEY POINTS:
For large chunks of this season, Lote Tuqiri's stress levels were rising.
He was a frustrated footballer; the Waratahs were wallowing in the Super 14, his chances were restricted and he was under constant rebuke. He was not in a good place.
Certainly not the dynamic player who
tormented the All Blacks at Eden Park last year, the potent attacker who lived up to his Dark Shark nickname.
This season, the monikers were sneering - more like Loan Shark or Costa Lote as observers questioned his value for money in Australian rugby and the league offers started to roll back in for the former Brisbane Bronco.
The angst showed when Tuqiri pushed teammate Sam Norton-Knight after another absurd piece of NSW rugby.
The Shark was sinking into a pool of pressure.
When he was picked in the Wallaby squad but told to sharpen his fitness rather than play, it did not help Tuqiri's demeanour.
But ask him now and he lauds the decision and is equally effusive about the Wallaby chances tonight in his 53rd test.
"I have had a bit of fun," he said. "You are not too bad rehashing that. What helped me was the regeneration for a couple of weeks.
"At the time I was not filthy but I wasn't happy about not playing those test matches or at least not being available to be picked. In hindsight, it has been great for me. I am feeling refreshed mentally and physically.
"It helped especially mentally. I have had a big year, more so off the field with a lot of things happening. The two weeks freshened me. I did my own thing and got away from footy.
"When I came back, I knew this is what I wanted to do and where I wanted to be. I said get me out of the cage. It became a long year, not playing that well, not getting the results with the Tahs and being a player with a bit of profile, there was a bit of pressure on me a lot of the time."
Tuqiri said the Waratahs lacked direction and had much inexperience, acknowledging he should have done more to try to help out.
His statistics were steady but he knew he could play better and lead more off the field.
The pulse in the Wallabies was different. The team was confident and that conviction was enhanced after the close loss to the Springboks.
"It gave us a mark of what we were doing and that what we are doing is right. I have confidence in my teammates playing well and getting our game plan across, which we haven't had before.
"There is a confidence about our attack but we need a fair chunk of ball. If the All Blacks get 55 per cent of the possession, they will smash you every time and maybe stick 20 points on you.
"Whoever the All Blacks pick, there is no weakness. They could pick two or three teams and still beat other countries.
"I am confident about our forwards and they reinforced that in Cape Town. They had the conviction to put their balls on the line and, if we can stay injury free with a few of our key players in there, I think we will be okay."
There was no doubt that opponents would attack the Wallaby scrum. But the only way they could alter perceptions of frailty was to get the experience and play strongly in major matches.
"I think the boys started that in Cape Town and Matty Dunning has really come on. His head is really switched on this year," Tuqiri said.
"In the past, Matty's mental state hasn't been the best, knowing where he is among the team and whether he is coming or going but I think he is a lot more settled.
"He has signed a new contract and we are not pinning everything on him but the confidence among that group is a lot more potent that what it was 12 months' ago."
