Sione Tuipulotu believes Scotland have “evolved into the team they wanted to become” but the captain has learned from experience not to make any bold claims about their chances of turning over double world champions South Africa in the Nations Championship on Saturday.
The 29-year-old is relishing the chance to lead the Scots out for their first away game against the Springboks in 12 years at a time when they are in good form and have risen back up to fifth in the world rankings.
“I think we’re a much different team now,” Tuipulotu said, reflecting on where Scotland are in relation to when they lost 32-15 to the Boks at Murrayfield in November 2024.
“I would like to think we’ve evolved into the team that we wanted to become. We saw bits of that in the Six Nations and I was really proud of the performance last week away from home against Argentina.
“I think the games we’ve played over the last 12 months have shown we’re a little bit different from when we played them last at Murrayfield.”
Despite a run of four wins in their last five Tests, Tuipulotu was in no mood for any bullish pre-match declarations of intent ahead of what looks a formidable challenge in Pretoria.
“I would like to think our confidence is a little bit quieter and to keep it in the changing room,” he said. “There’s no point talking about anything like that before the game as you have to go out there and play the world champions in their backyard, and what will be, will be.
“Maybe this is just me having gained experience from the last two or three years but it’s better just to leave it to Saturday. Of course I’m confident in my group – it would be stupid as a captain to say ‘I’m not confident in my group and we’re going to go out there and lose’.
“I’m confident in our group but it’s a quiet confidence.”
Tuipulotu, 29, described Saturday’s match as one of the biggest of his career and the British and Irish Lions centre stressed that he will never take for granted the opportunity to captain Scotland on such occasions.
“This is why I started playing rugby when I was 12 years old,” he said. “To be in these types of weeks preparing with this group with an opportunity to play the world champions in their backyard.
“I feel like I’m in a rare space in my career where I’m not going to get this opportunity again to be coached by this coaching staff or play with this group of players.
“I’m very grateful to be in the space that I am and captaining this side. I don’t know when it’s going to come but more and more boys that I’ve played with since I arrived in Scotland are finishing up.
“It just gives you a bit of a reality check that this stuff doesn’t last forever.”