Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu has openly acknowledged that one of his team's primary objectives during the upcoming Six Nations championship will be to win back the trust and support of a disgruntled fanbase. The national side enters the tournament under significant pressure following a deeply disappointing autumn international series that has left morale at a low ebb.
A Cloud Over Murrayfield
The atmosphere surrounding Gregor Townsend's squad is decidedly gloomy after a dismal autumn campaign. Scotland suffered a heavy defeat to New Zealand before producing a particularly damaging late collapse against Argentina at Murrayfield. In that match, they squandered a commanding 21-0 lead to slump to a demoralising 33-24 loss, a performance that resulted in the team being loudly booed off their home pitch by unhappy supporters.
Playing Without the Weight of Expectation
These recent setbacks, combined with Scotland's overall uninspiring record in the Six Nations, mean that very few pundits are tipping them as genuine title contenders this year. Tuipulotu conceded that, instead of championship ambitions, a core aim will be to regain the faith of the public.
"I think the other teams deserve the expectation more than us," the captain stated. "And I think that may be a good thing for us not to carry the expectation of everyone. To go and play games and earn the trust of each other, and also probably regaining some of the trust from the public, is something that I'm really excited to do."
Tuipulotu accepted full responsibility for the team's fortunes, embodying the leadership role. "I think a lot of them probably have the right to feel like that as supporters. And this is something that I take responsibility for. When you're the captain, you're at the front of the line when things go well... But you're also at the front of the line when things don't go well and I'm fully on board with that."
Internal Focus and Changing Perceptions
The centre emphasised the importance of the squad maintaining an internal focus, insulating themselves from external criticism while they work to turn results around. He drew parallels with his club experiences at Glasgow Warriors, where public perception shifted dramatically with improved performances.
"It's important that we also internalise in the group how we think about ourselves, not take public perception in, because perception will change when results come," Tuipulotu explained. "We got served up the same criticism when maybe we were struggling to get those wins at Glasgow. But it's funny how quickly public perception changes."
Squad Updates and Young Talent
Meanwhile, head coach Gregor Townsend has been forced to make adjustments to his squad due to injuries. Glasgow hooker Gregor Hiddleston has received a call-up as cover for Dave Cherry, having initially been omitted. Tuipulotu, a clubmate of Hiddleston's at Glasgow, revealed he offered the player encouragement during his initial snub.
"I said to him when he wasn't selected, 'Just keep doing what you're doing, mate'," Tuipulotu said. He expressed immense pride in the young core of players at Glasgow who have stepped into senior roles, specifically highlighting how Hiddleston seized his opportunity following injuries to Johnny Matthews.
Further changes see scrum-half Gus Warr called up due to injury concerns over Jamie Dobie, while flanker Liam McConnell has returned to Edinburgh for treatment on a rib issue. As the tournament approaches, Scotland's mission is clear: to step into the arena, wear the pressure, and begin the process of winning back their nation.
