Scotland end the calendar year with win against on-form Wallabies

Scotland end the international year with impressive victory against the Wallabies. Tim Pont reports:

Scotland faced Australia in their final game of 2024. After an ambitious but ultimately disappointing Six Nations tournament, followed by a relatively easy series of summer opponents, the Autumn Nations Series provided a chance for Gregor Townsend’s side to face both world class and developing teams. It certainly didn’t disappoint, with two victories and a hard fought performance against the world champions, the Springboks, leading up to this final test match versus the Wallabies.

Joe Schmidt’s team had a disappointing Rugby Championship campaign, finishing in the dreaded ‘wooden spoon’ position. However their autumn test campaign saw them defeat both England and Wales before travelling north to Scottish Gas Murrayfield. The side had a chance to complete a ‘Southern Hemisphere Grand Slam’, with a final test match to come against Ireland. 

Australia started aggressively, charging down the field, eventually opting to take the early three points after a Scottish off-side, Noah Lolesio kicked to give the Wallabies the lead.

Finn Russell looked to equalise just minutes later but the kick deflected off the upright to keep Australia in front. It wasn’t long before Scotland gained the full seven with a try from captain and, Australian born, Sione Tuipulotu catching the line-out throw from Ewan Ashman and charging through quickly on the left hand side of the posts. Finn Russell’s kick, this time, was good to make the score 7-3 after 11 minutes. Both sides had opportunities to score again before the break, with possession switching back and forth but both nation’s defences held strong with no more points conceded for either side before half-time.

Three minutes into the second half Scotland added to their lead after Carlo Tizzano was deemed to have made a rough tackle on Darcy Graham. Finn Russell kicked for three. Barely a minute later, however, Australia pushed the lead back with another penalty kick from Noah Lolesio cutting the deficit to four points again. 

Duhan van der Merwe once again became Scotland’s highest try scorer, slicing through the Wallabies’ defence after a long pass from Blair Kinghorn to the left wing. Scotland’s lead was extended to 11 points with Finn Russell scoring a tricky looking curved kick for the extra two. 

Later, a stunning breakthrough from Darcy Graham, saw the ball move halfway up the field, the ball eventually passed over to Josh Bayliss who battled through yellow shirts to add to Scotland’s total.

Four minutes after this, Scotland scored again, Van der Merwe broke forward before a series of passes left the ball in Finn Russell’s hands as he charged over the line. Both tries were unconverted but an extra ten points in five minutes left the score 27-6 with 9 minutes left to play.  

Scotland allowed themselves to relax a little with the victory all but assured, the final try of the game going the way of the Wallabies, debutant Harry Potter slamming through the Scotland defence after a lineout to secure his first Australia try. A successful conversion left the score at 27-13. Australia looked for a further consolation try to end the match, but exceptional defence from Gregor Townsend’s side left things as they were.

Scotland will come away pleased with a very good performance that saw them score some skilful tries against a side that was hot-on-form.

Overall Gregor Townsend’s side will consider their Autumn Nations Series a success, with 3 wins from 4. Scotland will return to Murrayfield for the start of the Guinness Six Nations against Italy on the 1st February.