Revenge sweet for gallant Scotland
Scotland have got their sweet revenge by beating the Wallabies for just the third time in almost 35 years with a dogged 24-19 win yesterday.
After trailing for the first 57 minutes, the Wallabies hit the lead when Bernard Foley converted a Will Genia try on the back of some unrelenting front-foot play from Australia.
Instead of rolling over, Scotland hit back with their third try in the 62nd minute courtesy of Hamish Watson to regain a five-point lead.
From there the world’s sixth ranked rugby side repelled numerous attacking Wallabies threats to record a victory that will somewhat make up for their one-point loss at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Even after the fulltime siren Australia charged at Scotland and looked like snaring another miraculous victory but a sensational turnover from Scotland – their second in two minutes camped on their own line – sealed the win.
Scotland five-eighth Finn Russell was instrumental, scoring a try to go with his three conversions.
For as much as the Wallabies hoped a psychological advantage may help them in the dying stages, this Scotland outfit were hungrier and showed that even without three of their best players, they could outclass the world’s No 3 side.
Israel Folau scored the first back-to-back double of his career but it was in vain as the Wallabies undid plenty of their good work against Fiji, highlighted by some serious breakdown deficiencies.
Eto Nabuli was kept relatively quiet on debut on the wing, making four runs for 22 metres.
Australia were ineffective at the lineout, too, losing key ball off their own throws when they desperately needed to wrestle momentum back.
As for Scotland, they played with real passion and were hell-bent on reversing the trend of previous fixtures when the Wallabies snatched late, unlikely victories.
It was the Scots, who after having consistent territory, scored the first-pointer in the 15th minute after a wayward intercept pass from Tatafu Polota-Nau brought back memories of James Slipper’s error in the most recent World Cup quarterfinal.
But it was Folau who continued his excellent form with a try in the 20th minute off the back of neat pass from Foley to the Wallabies fullback who had no-one in front of him.
Trailing 10-7, the Wallabies lost Foley for a reckless late shot and then things got even worse when a Genia kick was charged down by Russell to bring up the visitors’ second try.
The Wallabies looked tentative to play their own game and such avoidable errors had Michael Cheika banging his fists on the desk in the coaching box.