Sio set to counter 'Tahs physicality

Editor

Brumbies director of rugby Laurie Fisher wants prop Scott Sio to use his 120kg body to counter the Waratahs' physicality on Saturday.

Brumbies director of rugby Laurie Fisher has urged prop Scott Sio to use his 120kg body to counter the Waratahs' physicality in Saturday's semi-final in Sydney.

Sio and the rest of the Brumbies pack were on the receiving end of a battering when they were beaten 39-8 in their previous match against the Waratahs in Sydney four weeks ago.

The Waratahs' forwards laid the foundation in that clash as they outmuscled their Brumbies counterparts. And Fisher is confident that Sio can lead the Brumbies' charge in winning the forward battle.

“Scotty has developed into a Test player, but by no means is he the finished product,” he told the Canberra Times.

“He needs to bring a real edge to his game on Saturday night and that's his challenge… It's going to be a physical battle, he's 120 kilos and he's got to be front and centre of the physical exchanges, be where the collisions are.

“We did not match their physicality or work-rate last time… their exponentially fitter than they were two years ago. You have to match everything they bring to the game.”

Sio's dad was in the Samoa side that beat Scotland at the 1991 World Cup and who eventually lost 9-3 in a nailbiting quarter-final to Australia.

The young Wallabies prop was born a week before that victory over Scotland which prompted his parents to name him Scott.

The 22-year-old is now trying to forge his own path to success by following his dad's advice.

“My dad has always told me that if you're good enough, you're old enough,” said Sio.

“Half the battle is mental and I've had to build that.”