Scotland vs Australia LIVE: Result, final score and reaction from Autumn International match today
Follow all the latest reaction from the match at Murrayfield after Scotland’s dogged win
Scotland’s replacement hooker Ewan Ashman scored a try on his debut as they won the forward contest to defeat Australia 15-13 in a feisty autumn international clash at Murrayfield on Sunday.
Loose-forward Hamish Watson also crossed for a try, and flyhalf Finn Russell slotted one penalty and a conversion as the Scots kept up their winning run against Australia with a third successive victory.
Australia, who were beaten at the breakdown and in the scrum, managed a single try through loose-forward Rob Leota as prop Allan Alaalatoa also received a contested yellow card.
Russell landed the winning penalty after 69 minutes as the visitors were penalised at the scrum yet again, much to the delight of the home fans in the 65,700 crowd.
Scotland 0-0 Australia
8 mins: Scotland kick for touch, before the hosts try to execute a short line-out. The return pass to George Turner goes forward, however, and leads to the second scrum of the afternoon. Australia come away with the ball this time.
Scotland 0-0 Australia
7 mins: Australia are able to put the pressure on Scotland immediately from the restart, as they win another penalty on the 22. The Wallabies go for the scrum, but Scotland win the penalty after it collapses.
Scotland 0-0 Australia
5 mins: The first penalty of the day goes Australia’s way after Sam Skinner comes into a ruck from the side. Good pressure from the Wallabies, there, to force the error in the Scotland half.
Australia choose to go for the posts but James O’Connor shanks the kick wide from a relatively straight-forward position.
Scotland 0-0 Australia
2 mins: Russell’s second kick of the match is much, much better, however. After a cheeky off-load, he finds the corner with a booming kick down the touchline. The full-back Kellaway does well to keep it in, but his kick only makes it to half-way and Scotland can gain some territory.
Scotland 0-0 Australia
1 min: Yikes, almost a horror start for Scotland as Finn Russell’s kick from inside his 22 is charged down - but Scotland are able to regain possession after gathering the loose ball.
Scotland vs Australia
Stirring stuff at Murrayfield as a rendition of ‘Flower of Scotland’ rings out by a full crowd for the first time in almost two years. There’s a cracking atmosphere inside the stadium and perfect conditions for this Autumn International fixture.
Scotland vs Australia
Michael Hooper leads the Wallabies out onto the field at Murrayfield, before the sell-out home crowd roars the hosts as they make their way out into the crisp Edinburgh air.
It’s been 20 months since Scotland last played in front of a full Murrayfield, and we’re all set for what should be a great clash of two entertaining teams.
Kick off is moments away. Time for the anthems.
Scotland vs Australia
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend, speaking to Amazon Prime Video:
“It’s a big challenge. They’ve won five games in a row, beat the world champions twice and they play a brand of rugby not too dissimilar to ours. It’s a good match-up for the spectators.
“We know that we’ve got to be alert to them moving the ball at pace, but also the pack. They showed against the Springboks that they have a very strong pack and with players like Will Skelton and [Taniela] Tupou on the bench, they’re a formidable outfit.”
Scotland vs Australia
Australia head coach Dave Rennie, speaking to Amazon Prime Video:
“We’ve improved but we know there’s a lot more in us. We know the challenge we face in Europe. Scotland had a really good Six Nations and we are mindful of that.
“We’re good. We’ve been together for a long time. Obviously we had three defections from a Japanese perspective but we’ve brought in a couple of guys from France and they will add another dimension to us as well. We’re in a good place.
“Scotland have a good pack and if they can get you in the right area of the field they are very patient and they will go multi-phase. They've got a back-line who can spark from anywhere and I’ve coached a number of those boys, so we’re aware of their threat. We will have to defend very well.”
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