Tuipulotu takes lead in Scotland show of strength
The Guardian|November 25, 2024
Scotland's autumn report card reads three wins out of four.
Luke McLaughlin
Tuipulotu takes lead in Scotland show of strength

That will do nicely, but Gregor Townsend's team felt obliged to defeat a resurgent Australia to regard this campaign as a success.

The hosts scored four tries in overwhelming Joe Schmidt's young side - there will be no Wallabies grand slam, no emulation of the heroes of 1984 - but the tourists stayed in the battle until the final quarter.

Player of the match, Blair Kinghorn, produced in an imperious display from full-back while the Scots captain, Sione Tuipulotu - born in Melbourne, raised between Australia and Tonga - led by example.

His Greenock-born grandmother, Jaqueline Thomson, even flew over for the occasion. "It felt weird," Tuipulotu said of seeing her up on the stadium's big screen. "I'm happy and a bit emotional that her life has gone full circle and she's back here watching me play for Scotland. I'm just happy she gets to have that moment."

In a fierce, niggly encounter Tuipulotu scored the opening try and also, unintentionally but significantly, took Australia's Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii out with a rampaging carry. It became a comfortable victory but there was inaccuracy and frustration too, especially in the first half.

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