Former Melbourne schoolboy and ex-Rebel Sione Tuipulotu could be in line to take on the Wallabies after being named to make his Test debut for Scotland against Tonga.
The 24-year-old will start at centre in Gregor Townsend’s line-up for the match at Murrayfield on Saturday (Sunday AEDT).
Scotland host Australia at the same venue a week later.
Tuipulotu qualified for Scottish selection through his grandmother, who emigrated to Melbourne from Glasgow.
“I’m really close with my grandma and she has a thick Scottish accent so I always knew I was Scottish,” he told theoffsideline.com.
“I really wanted to play Test footy for a country where I have heritage.”
Tuipulotu grew up in Frankston and attended Melbourne rugby nursery St Kevins, while he also played for Australia at schoolboys and under-20 level.
Signed out of school, in 2016 he became the first Victorian to play for the Melbourne Rebels and made 11 appearances but failed to nail down a starting role.
In 2019 he took up a contract in Japan and was then lured to the Glasgow Warriors by Townsend earlier this year.
“I think in that period when I was at the Rebels and not playing regularly, I lost my love for the game a bit, and then when I went to Japan I re-found it completely,” said Tuipulotu, who has a younger brother Mosese at the Waratahs.
“I went into my last season in Japan kind of weighing up whether to stay in Japan, go back to Australia or come over to Scotland, and I’m really glad I made the decision to come over to Scotland.”
Townsend has included four debutants in his starting XV to face Tonga – Glasgow pair Tuipulotu and Rufus McLean and Edinburgh duo Jamie Hodgson and Pierre Schoeman.
“Sione’s a really creative player,” Townsend said.
“He likes to get others into the game but he’s also got his own power and acceleration.
“He can be a real connector between the midfield and the back three.”
© AAP
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
Rugby has had some ridiculous kickers. The ability and skill with the boot can turn the course of a play, a scoreline, or a…
Just outside the Velodrome, a pack of Frenchmen asked if I would scrum with them, against them. Swallowing my pride at being viewed as…
What a busy weekend! Saturday's menu included the Berkshire Hathaway annual report, the Kiama sevens, Six Nations and Super Rugby, though maybe in a…
Scotland playmaker Finn Russell has been at his creative best in a crushing 35-7 bonus-point win over Wales in the Six Nations at Murrayfield,…
Duhan van der Merwe has scored an early challenger for try of the tournament and also went over for the match-clincher as Scotland beat…
The Wallabies' thrilling win over Scotland didn't exactly blow your minds, if the DIY player ratings results are any guide - with one notable…
