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Sione Tuipulotu insists the British and Irish Lions must continue to shrug off any provocation during their tour of Australia.
The Scotland captain is one of eight players in Andy Farrell’s squad who were born, raised and educated in the southern hemisphere, and he was among those caught in the crosshairs by the Tannoy announcer at Optus Stadium before Saturday’s 54-7 rout of Western Force.
‘Another Aussie at No 12, Sione Tuipulotu,’ was how the centre was introduced when the team was read out for the Lions’ opening match on Australian soil. Mack Hansen, James Lowe and Pierre Schoeman were also referenced by the nation of their birth rather than their adopted country, for whom they have qualified either through residency or family heritage.
It continued a theme from the hosts that began when Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt described Tuipulotu and New Zealand-born Ireland international Bundee Aki as a ‘southern-hemisphere centre partnership’ in the build-up to the defeat by Argentina in Dublin.
Tuipulotu emphasised the words ‘good humour’ when brushing aside the jibes that he expected on his return Down Under. ‘I knew there would be some “good humour” coming back home to Australia. These are all things we’ve got to take in our stride,’ he said.
‘To not announce the elephant in the room, I am from Australia. I was born here. I don’t know how funny that gag is to everyone!
Sione Tuipulotu was introduced as an 'Aussie' before the Lions' win against Western Force
Scotland's Pierre Schoeman was one of several Lions referenced by the nation of their birth
Tuipulotu celebrates with fellow Scotland international Finn Russell after the Lions' 54-7 win
‘I’m loving my rugby playing for the Lions and I’m really passionate about it. Andy’s brought the group together so well.’
Finn Russell was at the heart of the onslaught in his first outing of the tour and the Scot’s instinctive play drew approval from Farrell, who said: ‘He’s ready to go. And that’s good.’
Tuipulotu, who expects to be firing by the Test series as he continues his comeback from a significant ankle injury, said: ‘We’re taking ideas from all the nations. Obviously, the coaching style is very Ireland dominant and there are a lot of ideas that we’re getting from the Irish coaches, but then those ideas are being sprinkled on.
‘We’re still growing, there’s a lot of growth left in us but the identity at least, you could see how we try to play the game out there.’
