'I’ve always wanted to be a fly on the wall... see what he’s saying about our lads'

Scotland skipper Sione Tuipulotu has thanked Wales boss Steve Tandy for turning him into the leader he is today.

Tandy spent six years as Scotland defence coach before returning to his homeland last summer to become Wales head coach.

The pair will be reunited in Guinness Six Nations battle at Cardiff on Saturday as Scotland seek to build on their stunning victory over England and add to Welsh misery.

It provides a fascinating sub-plot as Australia-born centre Tuipulotu says he would not have become a Test captain had Tandy not developed a “personal relationship” with him and brought him “out of my shell”.

Tuipulotu said: “He was the first coach I had a personal relationship with when I moved a long way away from home.

Six Nations

P

W

L

D

PF

PA

PD

BP T

BP-7

BP

Total

1

France

2

2

0

0

10

2

Scotland

2

1

1

0

6

3

England

2

1

1

0

5

4

Italy

2

1

1

0

5

5

Ireland

2

1

1

0

4

6

Wales

2

0

2

0

0

“He could see that if I’m around people I don’t know, then I’m very shy. He put his arm around me and learned about me as a person before a rugby player.

“I trusted him a lot and I could confide in him in stuff outside rugby as well.

“In those early stages of my development in Scotland, he played a massive part of just bringing me out of my shell.

“He saw the leader in me that maybe I didn’t even see at that time. So I owe a lot to him for the job he did in my career.”

Tandy has had a rough start to his reign with five defeats in six games and heavy Six Nations losses to England and France, in which Wales have shipped 15 tries and conceded 102 points.

Wales fans hope Tandy’s familiarity with Scotland will make them more competitive in the third round of games.

“I’ve always wanted to be a fly on the wall and see what he’s saying about our lads,” said Tuipulotu.

“We obviously know how Steve coaches, but I’m really glad he’s here because I know how passionate he is to be Welsh.

“It’s not my place to say, but I feel maybe what Wales needed is a proud Welshman behind them with coaching identity and stuff like that.

“He hasn’t got the results over the past couple of weeks, but I know Tanz (Tandy) will be getting his boys ready to put in a really big performance and shock us.”

Scotland, who lost their tournament opener in Italy, have struggled to back up wins against England in the past.

Gregor Townsend’s side have lost their next match four of the five times they have beaten the Auld Enemy.

Tuipulotu said: “It is always tough backing up an emotional performance like a Calcutta Cup game.

“But in order for us to stay in this tournament, we’ve got to be just as desperate, emotional and clinical as we were last week.

“I know you can’t lose two games in this tournament and think you’re going to be there at the back end for anything.”