Copyright scotsman
Sione Tuipulotu has urged Scotland to have the belief they can finally overcome New Zealand but he dismissed the suggestion that beating the All Blacks would be “the pinnacle” for this team. Tuipulotu, playing his first match for the national side in almost a year, returns as captain and wants his squad to tap into the history of the occasion. The match marks the centenary of Murrayfield and Scotland will be wearing retro-style jerseys to mark the occasion. The game has been sold out for months and Tuipulotu wants his players to go into it with confidence. “I spoke to the boys before but 67,000 people are coming to the stadium to watch us and it'd be a damn shame if we don't believe,” said the centre. “The most important thing is that when we run out of the tunnel I look around and I see 22 other guys that believe that we can win this fixture. “And it's not just that, it's also 100 years of Murrayfield, we're wearing this [jersey] to commemorate all the people that have played before us in this jersey as well, so it's also bigger than the record against New Zealand, it's also the history of Murrayfield that we're thinking about as well so we understand all the things that come with tomorrow.” Scotland have been playing New Zealand since they first visited these shores in 1905 but have never beaten them in 32 attempts, losing 30 games and drawing two. The fixture has taken on almost mythic proportions for some Scots but Tuipulotu was able to inject some Antipodean pragmatism. Growing up in Australia has possibly given him a different perspective and he batted away the suggestion that beating New Zealand would be the ultimate for Scotland. “I don't think so, no, I don't think it's the pinnacle,” he said. “South Africa won the last two World Cups, there's other fixtures that we probably haven't ticked off, I just think this is another fixture on our journey to be honest. “We understand the hoodoo of not beating New Zealand or we understand the 100 years mark, we understand all of that and we're ready for the things that those bring, and I'm sure they are as well, so the most important thing is these things that we are celebrating or going up against us don't put shackles on us, and that we go out there and play freely and most importantly be ourselves.” Tuipulotu is looking forward to facing the Haka, a pre-match tradition that has not been seen at Murrayfield for three years, but he said there was no special plan to deal with it. “We’ll face it like every other team faces it,” he said. “For me, it’s one of the bright spots of rugby, and it’s awesome for our fans to experience and get to see that live. It’s a challenge [being laid down] and I look forward to facing it and taking on the challenge.” One of the biggest challenges for Scotland on Saturday will be coping without Zander Fagerson. The 75-times prop misses out with a knee injury and the home scrum is likely to be considerably weaker without his ability and nous. It is now up to D’arcy Rae to fill the tighthead gap and Tuipulotu has challenged the Edinburgh player to seize the opportunity. “I believe everything happens for a reason,” said the skipper. “I've played with Zander for a long time, and maybe that door has closed for him but it opens for someone else. It’s going to be up to D’arcy whether he wants to walk towards it. We have full belief in him to do that. “He's been playing well for Edinburgh. And I just want him to go out there and be himself, not try and be Zander or be anyone else. I even think back to when I got injured before the Six Nations, and Tom [Jordan] had that run of games for us. Maybe these things are meant to happen, for people to gain that experience. And I just wish him the best tomorrow. “And I feel like sport has a funny way of giving people these types of opportunities. I want him to know the team's fully behind him, that he will go out and be himself and do the job for us.” Tuipulotu was part of the Scotland team that held a nine-point lead in the second half against the All Blacks in 2022 before losing 31-23 in Edinburgh. It was a game the home side could and perhaps should have won and Tuipulotu hopes it has helped them become more ruthless. “Obviously a lot of different players are playing for us and also for them,” he said. “But I think it's more just the experience of being a little bit battle-hardened and understanding that around 60-70 minutes if we're good enough that the game will be up for grabs. And there are lessons we've learnt maybe during the Six Nations over the past couple of years and also last autumn against Australia and South Africa of where we need to be. I think that's the most important thing, of the group knowing what it's going to take and it's going to be up to us to deliver on that on Saturday.” Tuipulotu’s last Scotland outing was a memorable one, as he led the team to a 27-13 win over Australia last November. The centre was at the peak of powers then and it was cruel luck that he would miss the Six Nations after sustaining a pectoral injury in training. He recovered in time for the Lions tour and shone in Australia, scoring the opening try in the win over the Wallabies in the first Test. He had trusty sidekick Huw Jones alongside him in Brisbane but will have a new partner on Saturday, with Rory Hutchinson at 13 as Jones continues his recovery from an Achilles operation. The Northampton Saints player has been in and out of the Scotland set-up over the past six years but has been used sparingly. Tuipulotu believes he is ready to take this opportunity. “I've been in the environment now for five years, and you watch the disappointment of boys missing out on opportunities,” said the captain. “And it's probably the hardest thing in sport - you know what that feeling feels like. “For him to keep showing up, keep showing up, keep showing up campaign after campaign, and then continue his good form from the summer for us, all the way leading into the Prem this year, it's a credit to him. People maybe only see his name in the 13 jersey, but they don't see all the things that happened before that, and how many times he's had to pick himself up to go again. I want to play with a person like that, you know? A resilient person like that, and we're going to have to show resilience on Saturday. “I really rate Hutch, his skill set and the way he's come on defensively as well. I'm excited for him to grab his opportunity. “To be honest, I don't think there is a like-for-like replacement for Huw, but it's different strokes for different folks. The most important thing is that when a player is not able to play through injury, the next guy doesn’t come in and try to be that person. I'm sure when I didn't play in the Six Nations, Tom didn't come in to try and be me, he played his own game. I think the same thing for Hutch. “He’s been brought in to bring his skill set to the light and bring his strengths to the field, and I'm sure he's going to do that.”
