Wallabies scrum-half Nic White admitted Rugby Australia allowed the talent of current Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu slip through their grasp. 

Tuipulotu was born in a suburb of Melbourne and came through the Melbourne Rebels academy.

In 2016, he made his Super Rugby debut - becoming the first "home-grown" player to represent the Rebels.

Thereafter, Tuipulotu struggled to cement a position in the Rebels side and moved to Yamaha Júbilo, where he spent three years before moving to Glasgow Warriors. 


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He has since become one of the best centres in world rugby and will pose a major threat to the land of his birth when the two sides meet at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on Sunday. 

Scrum-half White gave his verdict on the Scotland captain. 

He said: "He's a triple threat. He's got a low centre of gravity, very powerful, slick hands and a good kicking game as well.

Nic White has played more than 70 times for the WallabiesNic White has played more than 70 times for the Wallabies (Image: PA Wire) "He looks to be a really smart defender as well. Unfortunately, we let him get away, but he's going to have a point to prove this weekend. He's playing some outstanding. 

"We'll do the best we can to limit him. You can't stop a guy like that. He's just a world-class footballer."

White, speaking from the Wallabies' team hotel in Edinburgh city centre, also said they will aim to limit - rather than stop - Finn Russell this weekend.

Asked how to stop Scotland's talismanic fly-half, White, a veteran of 71 caps, replied: "Quite simply, you don't stop a guy like that.

Finn Russell was kept quiet by the SpringboksFinn Russell was kept quiet by the Springboks (Image: SNS) "What you can do is try and limit his options and his impact on the game. It's impossible to take out world-class players like that out of a game. He's just that classy and they've got a number of guys like that that are world-class in their side.

"Again, we've got to try and limit their moments. I think the really big focus will be just focusing on ourselves. We're also in a period where we're still evolving as a side and we've still got plenty of things to work on. 

"We've got some good scorelines and some good results the last couple of weeks. There's plenty we still aren't happy with and want to work on."

The Wallabies have won both matches on their European tour so far, beating England at Twickenham before a 52-20 demolition of Wales in Cardiff on Sunday. 

White would not go into the specifics of where the tourists need to improve, he feels they will need to be better than they were at the Principality Stadium if they are to get a positive result at Murrayfield this weekend. 

The Wallabies celebrate with the James Bevan Trophy after their drubbing of WalesThe Wallabies celebrate with the James Bevan Trophy after their drubbing of Wales (Image: PA Wire) "We know we're up against a different side this week, the 34-year-old said. 

"We're going to have to be a lot better to come to Murrayfield and get a result against a Scottish side that's really bloody good at the moment.

"We're excited by that challenge but we're under no illusion as to the hard work that needs to go in to prepare ourselves to be able to put a performance out there that we're happy with."