Sione fuelled by chip on shoulder

LIONS ACE WANTS HOME TOWN MELBOURNE GLORY

- From Adam Hathaway in Brisbane

SIONE TUIPULOTU has no axe to grind over his Wallabies snub but is aiming to show them what they are missing again this coming weekend.

The Scotland centre, the scorer of the opening try in the British & Irish Lions' 27-19 win in Brisbane on Saturday, was raised in Melbourne and played at the city's Rebels side before moving north four years ago.

Tuipulotu, eligible for Scotland through grandmother Jacqueline, never cracked it Down Under but has been a roaring success in Scotland and is aiming to nail a series victory in his home town.

The 28-year-old was disillusioned after not getting a chance with Australia but has buried that - claiming Scotland turned him into the player he is.

He said: "It's kind of crazy we can close out the series in my home town where I grew up. The stars have aligned for me.

"If you'd ask me when I first moved from Melbourne I would say, 'Yeah, it is personal'. There is still a chip on my shoulder, what has got me to this point is having that chip on my shoulder.

"But, in terms of me being felt like we were playing a Scotland game together. His nature helps everyone and calms everyone.