The Wallabies-Scotland rivalry born in a Melbourne backyard

Résumé détaillé

Sione Tuipulotu and Isaac Kailea used to face off in the backyards of their family homes in Melbourne. On Monday they will meet on opposite sides at Murrayfield.

Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu grew up playing footy with Wallabies prop Isaac Kailea in Melbourne.

Kailea described Tuipulotu as someone he looked up to, but said "he can be pretty lippy on the field, just like he is off it".

The Wallabies face Scotland at Murrayfield on Monday morning (2:10am AEDT) in the second of three Tests in the United Kingdom.

Sione Tuipulotu used to smash Isaac Kailea in their Melbourne backyard battles, but Wallabies prop Kailea hopes to get revenge when his "lippy" cousin leads out Scotland at Murrayfield.

Tuipulotu is another who got away from Australian rugby, a centre who forged his own path before using his ancestry to become Scotland's Aussie braveheart, an inspirational captain who led them to victory over the Wallabies two years ago.

None of which surprises his old mate Kailea, who as a kid always looked up to the guy he saw as a role model in their close-knit Tongan community in Melbourne.

It is also why Sunday's (Monday AEDT) international also means so much to 26-year-old Kailea, who came off the bench in that 2024 clash when Tuipulotu scored a try in the Scots' 27-13 victory.

"If I get the chance again, I'd love to get a win over him," Waratahs loosehead Kailea said, reflecting on the close bond between his family and the Tuipulotu brothers, Sione and younger rugby-playing siblings Sese and Tavi.

"Sione's probably one of the most competitive people I know, so when he puts on that Scottish jersey, he's going to give it 100 per cent.

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