ACT Brumbies director of rugby Laurie Fisher has challenged Scott Sio to add "an edge" to his performance against the NSW Waratahs, urging him to use his 120-kilogram frame to counter a physical onslaught in the Super Rugby semi-final.
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Sio and teammate Allan Alaalatoa will channel their World Cup giant-killing dads as the Brumbies attempt to beat championship favourites the Waratahs on Saturday night.
The Brumbies were bashed and outmuscled when they were beaten 39-8 by the Waratahs just four weeks ago.
The all-Test Waratahs forward pack stormed over the top of the Brumbies, setting the platform for a huge win and bragging rights before the semi-final showdown.
The Brumbies will be intent on making amends on Saturday night, and Fisher believes Sio can take his game to another level in the battle between four Wallabies props.
"Scotty has developed into a Test player, but by no means is he the finished product," he said.
"He needs to bring a real edge to his game on Saturday night and that's his challenge ... It's going to be a physical battle, he's 120 kilos and he's got to be front and centre of the physical exchanges, be where the collisions are.
"We did not match their physicality or work-rate last time ... their exponentially fitter than they were two years ago. You have to match everything they bring to the game."
Sio and Alaalatoa could easily be lining up for NSW had they not slipped through the Waratahs development system before getting a chance at the Brumbies.
Sio was in the Waratahs Academy before starting in Canberra on an extended player squad deal in 2012 and making his Wallabies debut last year.
Alaalatoa is on a similar deal now and will be upgraded to the full-time squad next year.
"I was born [in Sydney], it's natural to go for them, I went for every NSW team. Not just in rugby union," Sio said.
Sio's dad David was part of the Samoan team that defeated Scotland at the 1991 World Cup and almost toppled the Wallabies in a 9-3 nail-biter before earning a quarter-finals berth.
Sio was born a week before Samoa played Scotland and his parents decided to mark the occasion by naming him Scott.
Alaalatoa's dad Vili was in the same team and the families grew up around the corner from each other in Sydney.
More than 20 years after their dads stormed to fame at the World Cup, Sio and Alaalatoa are trying to forge their own path to success.
"My dad has always told me that if you're good enough, you're old enough. Half the battle is mental and I've had to build that," Sio said.
"Family support is massive as well, both [the Sio and Alaalatoa] families will be in the crowd.
"At the end of the day dad goes whoever we're playing for, he's proud of us."
Alaalatoa made his Super Rugby debut from the bench in the thrilling win against the Waikato Chiefs last weekend.
"Allan's up to it, we saw that last weekend,'' Sio said. "It's a tough time to come in, but finals time is what you train for and to have this opportunity is great.''
