Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu insists they will be brimming with belief when they go chasing Six Nations glory against Ireland in Dublin next weekend.
The Scots blew the championship wide open on Saturday with a stunning victory over France which saw them run in seven tries at a raucous Murrayfield.
It was a magnificent performance and result which will surely rank as one of their best of the professional era against a French team who were chasing the Grand Slam.
Sione Tuipulotu lifts the Auld Alliance Trophy after Scotland’s epic win over France
It tees up a blockbuster showdown in Dublin on St Patrick’s weekend, with France, Ireland and Scotland all vying to win the title.
Scotland need to beat Ireland whilst hoping that England can do them a favour against the French in Paris.
Ireland have been Scotland’s nemesis for so long, with Gregor Townsend never managing a victory against them in 11 attempts during his time as head coach. But Tuipulotu believes this victory over France has imbued the players with a renewed sense of confidence.
Heading into the final weekend still in title contention for the first time in the Six Nations era, Tuipulotu said: ‘I am so proud of the boys, what a performance, what a win.
‘Considering how this tournament started for us, we believe now, the tournament is not over for us.
‘I could not be prouder to be captain of this team. We’ve got ourselves an opportunity next week.
‘We stuck together after a tough first round and tough autumn and have now given ourselves one more job to do next week.
‘I couldn’t be happier for him [Gregor Townsend], we rallied behind our coach. This tournament isn’t over. We’ve got one more week to finish the job.
Gregor Townsend hugs Tuipulotu after the Scotland captain lifted the Auld Alliance Trophy
‘We’ve given ourselves an opportunity. It’s something a Scotland team hasn’t done before, going into the last week with everything to play for.
‘The way that we’ve attacked this Six Nations mentally is just one week at a time, truly. I know it’s easy to say that up here but that’s really how we’ve attacked it.
‘That was forced upon us a little bit after the Italy week but the way the leaders have just kept our feet on the ground week after week, it’s no different this week.
‘We’ll keep our feet on the ground. We know it’s a good win for us and we’ll take the confidence from it and just get back to the training field.
‘Yeah, we have momentum, definitely, and the belief has been there since before the tournament. Maybe that’s hard for you guys to see but I’ve been inside the changing room.
‘I’ve been in the meetings and listening to Gregor talk and listening to the other coaches talk, and we have an airtight changing room that believes, not just after this game, but before this game as well.
‘We’ve got to take that for one final week of the championship. We’ve got one more job to do.’
Tuipulotu had an excellent game in midfield with Huw Jones. They dovetailed with Finn Russell in devastating fashion as Scotland ripped France apart.
Scotland centre Huw Jones is a doubt for the Ireland game after going off injured
Kyle Steyn and Darcy Graham were also outstanding, scoring two tries apiece, along with near enough every player in the forward pack.
Tuipulotu praised his team-mates for the way they rallied round him in the first half when France captain Antoine Dupont stripped the ball off him to create a French try.
‘I thought when I got stripped by Dupont and they scored, the way the boys rallied around me as well after that shows what type of team we are,’ he added.
‘It’s a proud day for me as captain but I’m just really proud to be leading a group of guys like that, the ones that rally around each other, rally around our coach as we’ve done since you know the start of the tournament. I’m proud to be part of it.
‘It’s the game and you play against good players like Dupont and other boys that are out there for that French team.
‘Those things are going to happen. But I thought Demmo [Jack Dempsey] made a really good point this week about playing a team like this, that they’re going to make plays.
‘Your mindset should be when they make plays, here I come and I’m going to make a play in response. That’s what we did all day long. Every time they made a play, we made a play back, and that’s how you win games like that.’
Forward Rory Darge ended up playing at centre after Huw Jones was forced off
Jones eventually went off injured and Tuipulotu found himself lining up with Rory Darge in the midfield after the back-rower was switched to centre.
‘I feel safe with Dargey inside of me because he can tackle anything!’ laughed Tuipulotu.
‘To be honest, I knew that the middle of the field is a really strong part of France’s team. You’ve got the Bordeaux contingent of Matthieu Jalibert, who’s been playing some of the best rugby in the world,
‘Yoram Moefana, who’s been a good centre for years for them, and he has the chemistry with Nicolas Depoortere. But I can’t remember the last time I got to a rugby game and thought there was a better 10, 12, 13 playing than me, Finn and Shug. That’s just my mentality.’
