\n<\/p>\n
Tuipulotu said that the returning Blair Kinghorn and Duhan van der Merwe are “war ready”. <\/p>\n
You get the impression Scotland’s in-house messaging has been all about keeping the foot on the accelerator rather than coasting, as they have done in the past, most notably in 2022 when – after beating England – they were insipid in defeat in Cardiff next time out.<\/p>\n
Tuipulotu is on red alert. As he must be. He knows that the hunger they felt last week is not the exclusive preserve of the Scotland team.<\/p>\n
“I always felt that Welsh people and Scottish people are actually quite similar and they carry the same underdog story,” he said. <\/p>\n
“My instruction to the boys is that, if you feel like we were desperate last week, they’re going to be on a whole other level of desperation tomorrow.<\/p>\n
“And that’s what I’m expecting from them. I’m expecting them to be really fired-up and want to play in front of their fans. And our preparation has shown that we really respect this side because we know how desperate they are, know how well coached they are. <\/p>\n
“And as people, they’re going to front-up for their country. So we’re prepared.”<\/p>\n
Tuipulotu had kind words for Tandy, his former defence coach with Scotland and a man he says he owes much to. <\/p>\n
“He was the first coach I had a personal relationship with when I moved a long way away from home [from Australia],” he said.<\/p>\n
“I know you guys probably don’t believe me, but if I’m around people I don’t know, I’m very shy. I’m not shy now. But, when I first came over here, I was really shy.<\/p>\n
“And he was one of the first coaches to put his arm around me. That had a massive effect on my rugby because I trusted him a lot and I confided in him a lot on stuff outside of rugby as well. He played a massive part of bringing me out of my shell.<\/p>\n
“He saw the leader in me that maybe I didn’t even see at that time. And he encouraged that side as well. So I owe a lot to him.”<\/p>\n
There is a limit to his gratitude, of course. He thinks the world of Tandy but is also, well, desperate to beat him. <\/p>\n
It would be a seismic shock if Scotland were to fall over in Cardiff, but the hard-bitten visitors are keeping their guard up.<\/p>\n
A few of them gathered outside a hostelry on St Mary Street in the early evening on Friday. Their mood? “Very, very confident,” said one, “but at the same time very, very nervous.”<\/p>\n
As a study in Scottish rugby psyche, it was spot-on. As the saying goes, when you know, you know.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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