Sione Tuipulotu used to smash his young pal in their Melbourne backyard battles - but Wallabies prop Isaac Kailea hopes to wreak revenge all these years later when his 'lippy cousin' leads out Scotland at Murrayfield.
Tuipulotu is another who got away from Australian rugby, a centre who forged his own path before using his ancestry to become Scotland's Aussie braveheart, an inspirational captain who actually led them to victory over the Wallabies two years ago, as well as a British & Irish Lion.
None of which surprises his old mate Kailea, who as a kid always looked up to the guy he saw as a role model in their close-knit Tongan community in Melbourne.
It's also why Sunday's (Monday AEDT) international also means so much to 26-year-old Kailea, who had half-an-hour off the bench in that 2024 clash when Tuipulotu scored a try in the Scots' 27-13 victory.
"If I get the chance again, I'd love to get a win over him," smiled Waratahs loosehead Kailea, reflecting on the close bond between his family and the Tuipulotu brothers, Sione and younger rugby-playing siblings, Sese and Tavi.
"Sione's probably one of the most competitive people I know, so when he puts on that Scottish jersey, he's going to give it 100 per cent.
"Whether he goes extra hard because we're Australia, I couldn't say. I just know he's always putting in that effort, especially now he's their captain.
"I know him quite well. I grew up with him and his younger brothers, we pretty much just call each other 'cousins'. Our dads, both of Tongan heritage, met in Melbourne, and there's a couple of other Tongan families there we all grew up with.
"So a lot of boys, a lot of pretty rough games in the backyard, but Sione was always the leader among the kids, as the oldest. We played a couple of times in the backyard. He used to run amok - he'd smash us to bits!
"The younger kids just followed his lead, and the leadership he showed there is something I can see him doing now with Scotland. Even the way he talks, it's still the same. Yeah, it's pretty cool to see.
"It started in Melbourne where he debuted for the Rebels first. All my younger cousins and myself just really wanted to follow in his footsteps. He was a really good role model for all of us.
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"There's some unreal players in Melbourne that I don't think ever really get recognised and I always thought he was one of the best players coming out of Australia.
"It was a bit tough for him in Australia, he went on his own little journey, through Japan, and now he's ended up in Scotland, and his brothers are over here as well, chasing the dream," said Kailea, noting how hooker 'Tavi' plays alongside Tuipulotu at Glasgow Warriors while centre 'Sese' is at Edinburgh Rugby.
"Yeah, it's pretty crazy to be honest."
In that 2024 clash, Tuipulotu played like a man with something to prove.
"He can be pretty lippy on the field, just like he is off it, so he was throwing a bit of chat, but nothing too crazy. I don't think he'd get too disrespectful," smiled Kailea, recalling how Tuipulotu collected the match trophy off his Scottish gran, Jaqueline Thomson.
He also got flattened by a thunderous tackle from Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii in that match which actually caused an arm injury to the Australian and left Tuipulotu reflecting: "I've never been hit like that in my career."
Two years on, Suaalii's old centre partner Len Ikitau hasn't forgotten as he reflected with a wry smile on Wednesday: "Yeah, that was a good hit.
"Joseph, he's a warrior. When he's ready to go, he goes. He's excited for this for this match-up this week."
Australian Associated Press
