Scotland 15 Australia 12
After a weekend packed with outstanding rugby and a torrent of tries elsewhere in the Nations Championship, Scotland and Australia produced a far more uneventful contest.
This was anything but a thrill-a-minute encounter. Both sides are usually associated with adventurous rugby and an attacking mindset, but neither came close to displaying that ambition at Murrayfield.
As a spectacle, it was poor. Scotland deserve credit for battling their way to victory, but claims that this represented a significant improvement on last week’s defeat by New Zealand would be difficult to justify.
Instead, the performance raised more questions than answers about the direction of Gregor Townsend’s team.
The failure to secure a bonus-point victory over an underwhelming Wallabies side could prove costly. Had Scotland taken five points, they would still have been in contention for a first- or second-place finish.
Realistically, third is now the highest position available, and even that would require Scotland to beat Japan next weekend while Ireland suffer a heavy defeat against South Africa in Dublin.
Scotland remain fourth and could finish there, setting up the possibility of facing either Australia or Argentina on finals weekend.
Matt Fagerson is acclaimed by Scott Cummings and Finn Russell after his try
Calling this an ugly Scotland win barely captures the tension of it. On the anniversary of that collapse against Argentina last year, Scotland once again came perilously close to throwing away a match they had controlled.
The danger was greatest at the finish, when Australia closed the gap to three points and mounted one last attack after the clock had moved into the red.
Townsend’s players held on, but the uninspiring nature of the display left the victory feeling strangely hollow.
Scotland suffered a significant setback before kick-off when captain Sione Tuipulotu withdrew because of a knee injury.
Tuipulotu had taken a minor knock against the All Blacks the previous week. His knee was heavily strapped during Saturday morning’s training session, but he had remained confident of being fit to play.
‘Yeah, all good, I’m ready to go,’ the Scotland captain told reporters at the pre-match media conference 24 hours earlier, ahead of facing the country where he grew up.
That optimism proved misplaced. Tuipulotu was removed from the team, with Tom Jordan moving into midfield, Stafford McDowall promoted to the bench and Rory Darge taking over as captain.
Australia arrived in Edinburgh determined to respond to the fierce criticism that followed their emphatic defeat by England at Twickenham the previous weekend.
Scotland struck first after nine minutes. Ben White delivered a sharp pass towards the flank, allowing Matt Fagerson to force his way over in the corner.
Matt Fagerson touches down to open the scoring for Scotland against Australia
Australia responded almost immediately, going up the other end and scoring just two minutes later.
From Scotland’s perspective, it was a dreadful try to concede. Their defensive shape broke down, with Finn Russell in particular failing to make what should have been a straightforward tackle on Harry Potter.
Russell should have driven the Australian winger into touch, but he slipped off the tackle and Potter then evaded White before crossing the line.
For much of the opening 20 minutes, Scotland’s game plan was difficult to identify. They kicked repeatedly, a tactic that appeared to suit Australia far more than themselves.
The problem was compounded by the poor execution, with several kicks lacking both distance and accuracy. It was hardly the fast start Townsend’s side had hoped for after the disappointment against New Zealand.
The contest was disjointed and error-strewn. Whenever Scotland looked capable of building momentum, Australia’s openside Fraser McReight was able to disrupt them, including with an excellent jackal.
Scotland believed they had scored a second try after 24 minutes when Darcy Graham, back to full fitness and restored to the wing, touched down. The effort was ruled out, however, because Kyle Steyn had been in touch when he kicked the ball forward.
They soon created another opportunity. After winning a penalty and kicking to the corner, Scotland drove their maul towards the line.
Jack Dempsey eventually powered over from close range. Having been discarded by the Wallabies before moving to Scotland, the try would have been particularly satisfying for the powerful back-row forward.
Dempsey had been well below his normal standard against New Zealand, understandable given his lack of match sharpness after moving to Japan.
But his display against Australia, including the try, was much closer to the level Scotland have come to expect from him in recent seasons.
Australia remained firmly in the contest. They appeared to score a second try after 35 minutes through hooker Billy Pollard, but the effort was disallowed for obstruction.
Scotland took a 12-5 lead into half-time and were still ahead by the same margin 20 minutes into the second half, with neither team adding to the score.
It was a difficult match to watch. Neither side showed much quality with ball in hand, and the conditions could not be used as an excuse.
Heavy rain had been forecast, but the game remained largely dry. Instead, both teams struggled with a lack of precision and cohesion.
Jordan was enjoying a solid outing in midfield, but Scotland’s attack never truly clicked. As against New Zealand, Russell remained a peripheral figure.
Australia were reduced to 14 players when Pollard was correctly shown a yellow card for a high tackle on Blair Kinghorn.
With 20 minutes remaining, the match was still evenly poised. It had become a physical, attritional battle without much inspiration, and the outcome was likely to be decided by whichever side could find a way to endure.
Jack Dempsey scores Scotland’s second try under a pile of Australia bodies
Russell made another costly mistake when Scotland won a breakdown penalty. He attempted an ambitious kick but failed to find touch, giving Australia a reprieve.
With the Wallabies still within one score at 12-5, Russell finally created breathing space with five minutes remaining, confidently sending a penalty through the posts.
Australia refused to surrender and scored again with only 30 seconds left, winger Max Jorgensen finishing in the corner.
The Wallabies regained possession and briefly threatened to launch one final attack, but Scotland extinguished the danger and forced the ball into touch after a superb tackle from Graham.
A huge sigh of relief swept around Murrayfield. Scotland had secured the result, but this was a match unlikely to be remembered for long.
