Scotland’s Sione Tuipulotu braced for backlash from ‘wounded’ Australia

Sione Tuipulotu’s lifelong experience of the battling qualities of his Australian opponents will help steel the Scotland captain for a backlash on Sunday.

Both teams go into the Nations Championship fixture with something to prove after similarly disappointing displays last weekend.

Scotland fell 43-21 at home to New Zealand while the Wallabies suffered a 45-22 defeat against England.

Tuipulotu revealed Gregor Townsend’s squad had “confronted” their shortcomings while he expects Australia to be fired up following a fourth consecutive loss.

The meeting has further significance for the 29-year-old, who could come up against childhood friend Isaac Kailea if the prop comes off the bench.

Kailea this week revealed he viewed Tuipulotu as a cousin given how close their families were, often playing rugby in the gardens of their Melbourne suburban homes.

Tuipulotu, who has shaken off a knee knock, said: “I am super proud of Isaac. I spent all my childhood with him and his family. We were all very close.

“The games could be pretty violent at times and often they would completely veer off away from rugby. Sometimes it wouldn’t even be about rugby. There were times when there wasn’t even a ball.”

The Glasgow centre, who qualifies for Scotland through his Greenock-born grandmother, captained Townsend’s side to victory over Australia two years ago and scored the opening try in a British and Irish Lions’ win over his native country last year.

“If I’m honest, I think I will always have that little bit of fire bubbling away whenever I play against the Wallabies,” he said.

“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.

“It is always hard to watch the footage back after a defeat like that where we missed some big opportunities and let ourselves down in certain areas.

“As a group, we have confronted that and I’ve been very proud of the boys in terms of how they have rallied this week.

“We know that Australia will also be a wounded team coming here after what happened against England at Twickenham.

“I even think about the Lions after the first Test. Australia bounced back into the second and third Tests with real vigour.

“I can only imagine what’s been going on in their meetings this week. It’s similar to ourselves in terms of wanting to get back out there and give a better account of yourself.

“I am certainly not expecting them to come here and just lay down. I am expecting their performance to be much improved, but I’d like to say the same for us as well.”