Scotland vs Australia LIVE rugby: Result and reaction after hosts secure statement victory over Wallabies
Scotland 27-13 Australia: Three second-half tries powered the hosts away as they dashed the Wallabies’ hopes of a grand slam tour
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Your support makes all the difference.Scotland secured a statement victory against Australia to mark a perfect end to their Autumn Nations Series campaign.
Second-half tries from Duhan van der Merwe, Josh Bayliss and Finn Russell powered the hosts away, with Scotland largely controlling affairs after a fast Wallabies start. With their outside backs impressing and forwards standing up well to the visitors’ physicality, it was a complete performance from Gregor Townsend’s side as they secured a third win of November after previous successes against Fiji and Portugal.
Defeat at Murrayfield ended Australia’s hopes of emulating the achievement of the 1984 side, who swept the four home nations on a grand slam tour. Joe Schmidt’s team showed some of their inexperience, unable to find a route into the game as Scotland denied them opportunities in the broken field to secure a strong home victory.
Re-live all of the action from Murrayfield in our live blog below:
Sione Tuipulotu sets Scotland on course to statement victory over Wallabies
Sione Tuipulotu helped halt Australia’s autumn resurgence as the Scotland captain scored the opening try in an impressive 27-13 triumph over the nation of his birth.
The 27-year-old Glasgow centre, who left his homeland frustrated at a lack of opportunities in 2018, was the only player on either side to cross the whitewash in the first half.
It was an extra special moment for Tuipulotu as his 77-year-old Greenock-born grandmother Jacqueline Thomson – the woman by whom he is eligible for Scotland – was in the stand watching him play for his adopted nation for the first time.
There were further tries after the break from Duhan van der Merwe, who moved back to the top of Scotland’s all-time scoring charts on 30, replacement Josh Bayliss and Finn Russell.
Sione Tuipulotu sets Scotland on course to statement victory over Wallabies
Scotland 27-13 Australia: Gregor Townsend’s side produced an impressive performance in their final fixture of the year
FT: Scotland 27-13 Australia
Here are the thoughts of former Scotland flanker John Barclay, speaking on TNT Sports: “I think there’s plenty more in the tank for Scotland. What really encouraged me, during the build up to this week, was Scotland embracing the fact that they had to win today, and they did [win]. They did it well, they did it emphatically. When the game opened up, we saw them bizarrely find more of their structure and they became more potent. This is an exciting Scotland team, an exciting team to watch.”
“As always and as ever, they will be judged on how they perform in the Six Nations. The big challenge for Sione Tuipulotu and Finn Russell is how can they take this feeling, this Series, and carry it through to that tournament in February and March next year.”
And here’s Blair Kinghorn giving his thoughts to TNT Sports
“We wanted to end the year on a high, having done a good performance against South Africa we knew we could have done better. To end the year on a high in front of our home fans is amazing.
“It was a physical game, made it a little bit clunky in parts but we brought out attacking game in that second half and scored some really nice tries. Really happy.
“It’s our small skills, a couple of times I’ve made errors in that wide channel. It’s down to individual skills I reckon because our shape is good, but I’m buzzing for the boys, they have worked so hard all campaign.
“It’s the most special thing in the world playing in front of your own fans, pulling on the Scotland jersey. Just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who came out, you’ve been awesome.”
FT: Scotland 27-13 Australia
An excellent end to the year for Scotland, completing a statement win over a Wallabies side that had been in flying form. A mature, complete performance from the hosts, who ran out deservedly comfortable winners.
Scotland 27-13 Australia, 81 minutes
To within inches Australia go. Are they held up? No, according to referee Chris Busby, ordering Scottish hands away from the ball. Zen Nonggorr drives for the line but is replelled; Harry Wilson too..
Knocked on! Scotland hold firm at the last.
Scotland 27-13 Australia, 79 minutes
Scotland kick a penalty to the Australian five-metre line...but their lineout has been wobbly down there all day, and Dylan Richardson’s toss to the tail is a shocker.
A Wallabies penalty. The punt is launched long and the visitors can launch one last offensive with the full-time hooter ready to blare.
Scotland 27-13 Australia, 77 minutes
Off Australia go in search of a miracle. Harry Wilson sends Nick Frost up into the Scottish line. Wide, to the right, forwards and backs interchanging...but dragged into touch! That’ll be that, you’d think, for any faint Australia hopes.
TRY! Scotland 27-13 AUSTRALIA (Harry Potter, 75 minutes)
Magic handling from Harry Potter! It’s nowhere near as straightforward a score as it looked on first view, the Wallabies wing stumbling, bumbling and tumbling and never quite bringing the ball fully into his arms until the last moment.
Yet somehow, he manages to get it down just before his leg lands out of play at the bottom of the massive Murrayfield in-goal areas.
Over goes the conversion from Ben Donaldson. Five minutes, 14 points.
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