Scotland 'still very desperate' as Sione Tuipulotu calls for no Six Nations let-up

The captain said last week that the Scots were “desperate” after losing their opening match to Italy in Rome. They bounced back with a stunning victory over England in Edinburgh but Tuipulotu insists there can be no let-up in intensity in Cardiff.

Scotland are second in the standings, four points behind leaders France who visit Murrayfield in round four. Tuipulotu is not looking beyond Wales but knows the visitors need to overcome a team that is in the midst of a wretched run of form.

To do that the centre will look to tap into the same motivational reserves that served Scotland so well in the Calcutta Cup.

“I'm still very desperate, I think,” said Tuipulotu. “I just know you can't lose two games in this tournament and think you're going to be there at the back end for anything. For us it's one game at a time and Wales is the one in front of us at the moment, but I think in the bigger picture we just want to keep growing.

“We showed good growth last game and I think I suppose last week the bit that I'm most proud of is our ability to stay at that level for the 80 minutes. Some things went against us in the second half where England had a lot more possession but our emotional energy and our drive didn't dip whatsoever.

“Even in past performances against England when we have won there's still been moments in the game that have dipped and we've got to try to carry that 80-minute performance into this week. I'm not looking any further than Wales. I want to see an 80-minute performance.”

Scotland have struggled in the past to back-up big wins over England, losing six times out of seven in the next match after a victory against the Auld Enemy

“It is always tough backing up an emotional performance like a Calcutta Cup game,” said Tuipulotu. “But in order for us to stay in this tournament we've got to be just as desperate, just as emotional, just as clinical as we were last week and that's how we've prepared this week.”