‘One that got away’ Wallabies stumbling block

Wallabies giant Will Skelton says Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu, who was born in Melbourne and played for the defunct Rebels before switching allegiances, is one of “a few” guns Australian rugby failed to hold on to and would be a “handful” in this weekend’s clash in Edinburgh.

The Australians are gunning for a third consecutive win on the UK tour that so far has produced 96 points for the tourists and growing confidence under coach Joe Schmidt following a disastrous 2023 with Eddie Jones at the helm.

Code-hopper Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is set to return to the starting line-up against the Scots after centre Samu Kerevi was suspended for three matches for a dangerous tackle in last weekend’s win over Wales, with other changes looming.

Despite taking down powerhouse England and then the battling Welsh, Skelton said the clash with Scotland would be the Wallabies’ “hardest one yet”.

But Skelton, who plays his club rugby in France and didn’t join his teammates until they arrived in the UK, said it was clear how “connected” the Wallabies were, which was pivotal to their success so far.

“I’ve been with the group like 2½ weeks now and we’re showing how connected we are, we’ve got a good buzz in the group and we’re really focused on this week and excited about the challenge to play Scotland,” Skelton said on Wednesday.

“We were always building. When you have losses, there’s lessons to learn and this group is strong enough and is led well enough to get out of those holes.

“The Test against Scotland is going to be the hardest one yet, so we’re excited about this week and we’re looking forward to ripping in.”

That will include ripping in against Tuipulotu, who grew up in Melbourne, played three years in the Junior Wallabies (a record) and then played for the Rebels but moved to Scotland after a lack of game time.

His lineage through his grandmother Jacquelin “Anne” Thomson enabled him to debut for Scotland in 2021, and he has since racked up 31 Tests and was made captain a month ago.

“He’s a class player, good with and without the ball as a gain-line carrier,” Skelton said.

“It’s awesome to see an Australian playing and captaining another country, it’s cool. He’s going to be a handful this week and we’ll be ready to try to nullify him.”

Asked if Tuipulotu was one that got away from the Wallabies, Skelton said there were “a few like that in world rugby” who didn’t get the chances they were after in Australia.

“A guy like Mack Hansen too, who’s killing it for Ireland,” he said.

“If you were in their shoes when they were not getting what they wanted in Australia, they have looked overseas and taken those opportunities, It is credit to them to be able to play at the highest levels of international footy.

“There’s another Australian Samoan boy, Mani Meafou, who’s playing for France. You could easily sit here and say ‘We could have had him in our squad’ but they made those decisions and we are, not all behind them, but cheering them on when it comes to playing international footy and at the highest level.

“We are really excited about the squad we have and we back the guys we have here.”