Glasgow, Scotland, the Lions? The unstoppable rise of ‘Huwipulotu’ duo
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Giving them a compound name indicates level established by centre pairing Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones. There will be talk over the next week or two, as there usually is in the buildup to any Six Nations these days, of the possibility of a first Scotland title since five became six at the start of the millennium. The weary will roll their eyes, so familiar is the pang of yet more Scottish disappointment, but if this time, seriously, a title really, really is on the cards, the reason might be found in midfield.
![[Michael Aylwin]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2017/12/14/Mike_Alywin,_L.png?width=75&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
The Scotland centre pairing is so established now, for club and country, it comes with its own compound name: Huwipulotu. As Brangelina could have told them, or any cockapoo, the conferring of a portmanteau indicates a special place in the firmament. Sure enough, Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones are on most rugby folk’s shortlists for the Lions tour this year. The more excitable have even started dubbing them the best centre pairing in the world.
![[Sione Tuipulotu scores during Scotland’s win over Australia in November. The Scotland captain was born and raised in Australia.]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/399e71cfeded37a81df810601fae0775b02f734a/0_140_5712_3427/master/5712.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
There are a few in green shirts who will challenge them on both counts, not to mention a few in the southern hemisphere who might query the latter accolade, but there is no doubt Huwipulotu work as well together on the field as they trip off the tongue. If Finn Russell is looking as good as he ever has, he owes much of his ascendancy in a Scotland shirt to the maturing of the partnership outside him.
“They’ve both got really well-rounded games,” says their coach at Glasgow, Pete Murchie. “They play really well off each other. They can interchange. They can pass, they can carry, they can use their feet. They can kick. And they’re big defenders as well. They’re experienced players who have been at different places, different environments, around the world.”.
