Scotland star rated as one of the best in the world in his position by two British & Irish Lions
Former players turned pundits Ben Youngs and Anthony Watson were ranking the ten best players in the world as they see it.
Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu has been hailed as one of the best inside centres in world rugby by two former British & Irish Lions.
Scrum-half Ben Youngs, who is England’s most capped men’s player with 127 appearances, toured with the Lions in 2013 while winger Anthony Watson was part of the following two tours in 2017 and 2021. The pair are both regular pundits on the ‘For The Love Of Rugby’ podcast since hanging up their boots.
As part of the the show they recently came together to rank their picks for the top ten players in the world right now with Youngs making the initial suggestion that Tuipulotu should be included. Watson was in agreement with the conversation leading to his influence on the Scotland team.
Scotland skipper Sione Tuipulotu amongst the best 12s in world rugby according to England’s most capped men’s player
Youngs said: “When you think about the best 12s in the world at the moment it’s Damian de Allende, Jordie Barrett, [Yoram] Moefana and then it's Sione Tuipulotu. For me, that's the four, or maybe I'm missing someone? Len Ikitau I’d put in that as well.
“That's my sort of five best 12s, I believe, in the world, and I think that, at times, Sione Tuipulotu has more of an influence on a game than the majority of them. I think the way that he played against the Boks in particular, and the performance he put in as a captain, as an individual, was pretty red hot.
Watson added: “I actually have a lot of time for that. I think the point that hit home there with what you said was his influence on games compared to the other 12s. It seems like it's always at a greater level.
“Maybe that's because of who's around him potentially, compared to a Damian de Allende or a Jordie Barrett, do you know what I mean? There's not as much stardust in the back line for Scotland as there is for South Africa or New Zealand.
“Even saying that, I think when Scotland play well, 10 and 12 are flying, and I think that Sione obviously has a significant amount to do with that. So I think we can make room for him in the top 10.”
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