Scotland-Australia rivals set for rematch at Murrayfield - ‘what was said will stay on the field’
Fire ‘bubbling away’ inside home captain as he prepares to face country of his birth
Emotion is never far from the surface for Sione Tuipulotu and it is heightened whenever Australia are the opponents.
It is five years since the Scotland captain made his Test debut, turning his back on the Wallabies in the process.
He has enjoyed some notable jousts with Australia since and has come out on the credit side of the ledger, with one win apiece while playing for Scotland and the Lions and one defeat in dark blue.
The Melbourne-born centre is up against the Aussies again at Murrayfield on Sunday and it will be another huge occasion for the 29-year-old as he looks to help reboot Scotland’s Nations Championship campaign after last week’s defeat by New Zealand.
Fired up whenever I play the Wallabies
“If I’m honest, I think I will always have that little bit of fire bubbling away whenever I play against the Wallabies,” said Tuipulotu.
“I’ve done it a few times now, both with Scotland and also with the Lions. But there’s a bigger picture than just looking at me and my history with Australia.
“Our minds are firmly set on bouncing back after last week. That performance wasn’t good enough. We know that and we want to put that right.”
Tuipulotu admitted it was hard to watch footage from last week’s 43-21 defeat as the All Blacks denied Scotland a single point in the second half.
Australia are similarly hurting after going down 45-22 to England at Twickenham and Sunday’s match at Murrayfield has turned into a must-win for both sides.
Renewing the rivalry with Joseph Suaalii
Scotland got the better of the Wallabies two years ago in Edinburgh, with Tuipulotu scoring the opening try in a 27-13 win in front of his Scots-born granny who had flown in from Australia for the occasion. One of the key duels that day was between the Scotland captain and Australia’s ex-rugby league wunderkind Joseph Suaalii and the pair will go head-to-head again on Sunday.
There was plenty of needle last time after Suaalii tried to take out Tuipulotu with a shuddering hit in the first half. Tuipulotu went over to have a word with Suaalii at the next break in play and the Wallaby centre didn't take too kindly to it. His day got even worse when it emerged that he had injured his wrist while tackling the Scotland captain and had to be replaced after 30 minutes.
Tuipulotu was reluctant yesterday to reveal what was said to Suaalii.
“There's always words exchanged, but I've never been someone to quote what's said on the field,” said the Scotland captain. “It's just not my style.
“I would like it if people don't quote me, so I'm not going to quote him. I'd rather that stuff stay on the field. I'm so competitive, there are a lot of things that I say on the field, I often wonder if outside of the game [what] people must think of me.
“That's why I just don't judge any people on what happens on the field. It's just rugby, man. We're out there playing a physical sport. I'm not going to sugarcoat anything. You've got to go out there and compete.
“That day the tension had gotten high, and it's gotten high in a lot of other games as well. So, yeah, it's not just an isolated incident. I think that one just maybe got the headlines because maybe he had to come off, or maybe he was just freshly into union. I don't think it was that big. I think it got exaggerated a little bit.”
Ex-England wing Chris Ashton was particularly scathing
Suaalii played on the wing against England last week and struggled to make much headway. His performance attracted criticism in the media down south, and ex-England wing Chris Ashton was particularly scathing, questioning Australia's reliance on former rugby league players.
Suaalii has been moved to outside centre for the Scotland game and Tuipulotu believes the Waratahs man will be fired up by the flak.
“I know there's been a few things flying around this week about him,” said the Scotland captain. “I wish they could have done that in another week [when he wasn’t about to play Scotland.]
“My brother was with him at the Waratahs and he only had good things to say about him to be honest.
“I know how much of a talented athlete he is and there’s only so much you can poke someone before they respond. We are wary of the bounce back and we’re certainly not delusional enough to think that these kind of players won’t play well against us.
“I expect the very best version of Joseph Suaalii in this game and I’m excited to go up against him again.”
Heavy rain is forecast
The midfield will be one key battleground on Sunday but the playmakers in each side will be relying on their respective packs to provide enough ball to allow them to attack. Scotland were second best in the scrum against New Zealand but head coach Gregor Townsend has kept faith with the same pack this weekend.
Heavy rain is forecast and temperatures are expected to drop to around three degrees which should suit the home side more than the visitors. Tuipulotu said Scotland would adjust their game accordingly.
“It's going to have an effect, no doubt about it,” he said. “I think both teams will have a good chance to defensively have a good imprint on the game and maybe bounce back from what wasn't a good defensive performance for both of our teams last week. So that's one aspect of the game.”
On the offensive side, Scotland will, as ever, look to Finn Russell to lead the attack. Australia have made a change at 10, bringing in Carter Gordon, and Tuipulotu rates the Queensland Reds fly-half who went from union to league and back again.
“He's a really talented player and a big athlete as well,” said Tuipulotu. “We'll have to be wary of him and his running threat. We know what type of player he is. We're not underestimating him at all.”
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