Lions star Tuipulotu still has 'chip on shoulder' about Australia

Sione Tuipulotu still has a chip on his shoulder about not representing Australia, as he looks to help the British and Irish Lions wrap up a series win in his hometown of Melbourne.

Tuipulotu was with the Melbourne Rebels from 2016 to 2019 and made 14 appearances for Australia's under-20 side, but he was never selected for their senior squad.

The centre qualifies for Scotland due to having a grandmother from Greenock, and he has been a key player for Gregor Townsend's team since switching allegiance in 2021.

Now back in his homeland for his first Lions tour, Tuipulotu scored the opening try in Saturday's 27-19 victory in Brisbane.

The second match of the best-of-three series takes place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and Tuipulotu cannot wait to return to the city where he was born and raised.

"We could close out the series in my hometown," Tuipulotu said. "I know all the attention is going to shift to how we can play better from this game.

"To go back to Melbourne this week and hopefully play in front of my family and get another opportunity to play. The stars have aligned for me. I'm just very grateful."

Reflecting on his decision to leave Australia for Glasgow Warriors in 2021, Tuipulotu said: "I think if you asked me when I first moved from Melbourne I would say, 'Yeah, it is personal.'

"I think there is still a chip on my shoulder. I feel like that's what has got me to this point, having that chip on my shoulder.

"But in terms of being bitter about Australian rugby, not at all.

"I always say 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.

"But I owe everything to Scottish rugby and now I get a chance to go back to Melbourne and play in my home city and hopefully close out a Test series."

The Lions led 24-5 early in the second half of Saturday's opener and were threatening to record one of the biggest victories in their history, only for Australia to mount a stirring fightback in the last half-hour.

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt knows even more will be needed next week if his team are to force a decider in Sydney, saying of the Lions: "They're going to get better.

"They've got strength and depth. We've got to keep learning fast and hit the ground running next week, otherwise it becomes a dead rubber in Sydney.

"I know the Lions will want to close it out in Melbourne. It's going to be massive for both teams."