'A chip on my shoulder' from Melbourne days

a day ago

Centre Sione Tuipulotu says he returns to Melbourne with a chip on his shoulder going into the second British and Irish Lions Test with Australia on Saturday.The 28-year-old, who scored the Lions' opening try in a 27-19 first Test win over the Wallabies in Brisbane, started his career at Melbourne Rebels but chose to play his rugby away from Australia after struggling to nail down a regular starting spot.Following a move from Japan to Glasgow Warriors in 2021, Tuipulotu opted to represent Scotland, who he is eligible to play for through his grandmother."If you had asked me when I first moved from Melbourne I would say yeah, it's personal," Tuipulotu said."There's still a chip on my shoulder. What has got me to this point is having that chip on my shoulder. But in terms of me being bitter about Australian rugby, not at all."I wasn't good enough to play for the Wallabies when I was in Melbourne. It wasn't a selector problem, I wasn't good enough, that's plain and simple."I owe everything to Scottish rugby because they've made me the player that I am today."Now I get the chance to go back to Melbourne and play in my home city and hopefully close out a Test series. The stars have aligned for me and I feel very grateful."

Hashtags

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

The head coach tasked with rescuing Wales ahead of World Cup

The Independent

18 minutes ago

The Independent

The head coach tasked with rescuing Wales ahead of World Cup

Steve Tandy has been confirmed as the permanent head coach of the Wales rugby team. He is set to take charge from September, succeeding Warren Gatland after a period of interim leadership. Tandy brings significant experience, having served as an assistant coach for Scotland and as defence coach for the British and Irish Lions. His appointment comes at a crucial time for Welsh rugby, which is undergoing a rebuilding phase and facing challenging upcoming fixtures. Tandy expressed his honour and commitment to restoring the national team to competing with the world's best.

Martin wants 'powerful' connection between Rangers & supporters

BBC News

19 minutes ago

BBC News

Martin wants 'powerful' connection between Rangers & supporters

Russell Martin believes Rangers will "take some stopping" if they can create synergy between players and the eve of his first game in charge as head coach - against Panathinaikos in the second round of Champions League qualifying - Martin stressed the need to make fans "excited" in the first game of the season."Every day I wake up and I'm honoured to be in this position," the former Ibrox defender said. "I feel extremely grateful for it. I'm excited by it and I will give it absolutely everything I've got. We all will."That's what this club, the people, the supporters demand - those who will outstay all of us. I just want to put a team on the pitch that they are proud of."It has to start (on Tuesday). They have to see something to be excited about and we do too. The players have to feel something it and it's an amazing opportunity and game to do that."What we've seen in training has been amazing. They've come with fresh energy, willingness and openness to new ideas, demands - to maybe different rules to what they've had before - and they've been great the way they've embraced it."Now the biggest challenge is for them to do it in front of 50,000 people with a game that means so much to so many people. For any football player, that's the biggest test."One thing that has to come out is that the supporters leave feeling positively about their team, their new-look team, the way it's going to start to shape up."I hope that the fans will leave feeling excited about what's to come and there will start being a real connection, because I think if we can be connected - the whole club, Ibrox, the supporters - if this club has that, with that energy, I think it's going to take some stopping. I think it's really powerful."We have to all believe in something and that will be how much the players are willing to win, the hunger, the character, the desire to show and I'm confident that we'll see that."

Russell Martin wants ‘powerful' connection between his Rangers side and fans

The Independent

an hour ago

The Independent

Russell Martin wants ‘powerful' connection between his Rangers side and fans

Russell Martin believes Rangers will 'take some stopping' if they can harness an energy and connection between players, supporters and everyone else associated with the club. The Ibrox head coach is determined to ensure that process takes shape in his first match in charge against Panathinaikos on Tuesday. Rangers take on the Greek side in the first leg of the Champions League second qualifying round at Ibrox and Martin hopes fans can quickly see the dominant, intense, aggressive team that forms his vision for his reign. The former MK Dons, Swansea and Southampton manager said: 'Every day I wake up and I'm honoured to be in this position. I feel extremely grateful for it. I'm excited by it and I will give it absolutely everything I've got. We all will. 'That's what this club demands, what the people demand, what the supporters demand, who will outstay all of us. I just want to put a team on the pitch that they are proud of. 'It has to start (on Tuesday) and they have to see something to be excited about and we have to see something to be excited about. The players have to feel something to be excited about and it's an amazing opportunity and game to do that. 'What we've seen in training has been amazing. They've come with fresh energy, with willingness and openness to new ideas, to new demands, to maybe different rules to what they've had before and they've been great the way they've embraced it. 'And now the biggest challenge for them is to do it in front of 50,000 people with a game that means so much to so many people. And, for any football player, I think it's the biggest test to be yourself in those situations. 'What we have seen over the last four weeks, the more chance we have of being successful. I hope they play with the same freedom, enjoyment and aggression and willingness to run. 'For the team, it will accelerate the learning. That will improve, whatever happens, there's no doubt about it. 'But I think one of the things that has to come out is that the supporters will leave feeling positively about their team, their new-look team, the way it's going to start to shape up. 'We'll be by no means the finished articled, there's a lot of work that needs to go in, but in four weeks from what we've seen to now, the group has been great and they have to put that on the pitch. 'I hope that the fans will leave feeling excited about what's to come and (there will) start being a real connection. Because I think if we can be connected, the whole club, Ibrox, here, the supporters, if this club has that, with that energy, I think it's going to take some stopping. I think it's really powerful. 'But we have to all believe in something and that will be how much the players are willing to win, the hunger, the character, the desire to show. And I'm confident that we'll see that.' Martin's demand that his team play out from the back will ensure a different style to what Rangers fans have been accustomed to and the former Scotland hopes they can buy into that process. 'There will be times where it won't require much patience and there will be times where it will,' he said. 'It's not all going to be plain sailing, there will be some bumpy moments but we have to make sure that everyone can understand and see what we are trying to achieve and that the team has enough moments that people can feel excited about.'