Sione Tuipulotu: ‘Sense of belief’ in Glasgow Warriors camp ahead of Munster showdown

Adam Kyriacou
Sione Tuipulotu for Glasgow

Glasgow Warriors centre Sione Tuipulotu revealed there’s a “sense of belief” in the squad as they continue their push for silverware on two fronts.

The Warriors have already booked their place in the Challenge Cup final on May 19 but this weekend the attention turns to the United Rugby Championship (URC).

Standing in their path at the quarter-final stage is Munster, the side who Glasgow overcame in the PRO12 final of 2015 in one of the Scottish club’s historic victories.

Create our own history

The in-form Tuipulotu admits he is inspired by the reminders of that famous victory in Belfast eight years ago as they blew Munster away 31-13 in the Grand Final.

“I have never won anything. It was back in school the last time I won anything,” said the 26-year-old inside centre, whose outfit are in superb shape at the moment.

“It is quite special for me to be at a club which has recently won.

“You walk past guys in the changing room like Ryan Wilson who has won this tournament before.

“There is a sense of belief. We have guys in this team who have won this before and I didn’t have that at other clubs so we are rubbing shoulders with guys who have won it and we want to create our own history.

“Inside Scotstoun there are pictures everywhere of that Championship-winning team.”

As mentioned, Glasgow beat Scarlets in the Challenge Cup semi-finals but this week the URC is their focus as they face a dangerous Munster team on home soil.

“I just want to be part of a winning team and there’s a lot of boys who are really motivated to build towards that,” added the classy Scotland international star.

Focus solely on Munster

“I don’t want to get ahead of myself and think we are at the start of the final. We are in the last eight and earned ourselves a home game and it is about taking advantage of that.

“There is a long way to go before then and it starts this weekend with Munster.

“We haven’t won anything yet. The main focus is beating Munster on our home ground.”

The winner of the Glasgow v Munster meeting at Scotstoun on Saturday will progress to take on either Leinster or the Sharks in the semi-finals of the URC.

READ MORE: Denis Leamy: No more recruits as Munster back academy structures