Campese: Wallabies on the back foot

Australia legend David Campese believes that Scotland now have better finishers in their backline than for a number of years – and insists boss Gregor Townsend will make them even better.

Campese will be at Murrayfield on Saturday to see Scotland take on the Wallabies and he is looking forward to what he thinks will be a close affair.

And if there is anyone in rugby who knows about finishing then it is Campese as he ran in 64 tries in 101 outings for Australia between 1982 and 1996.

The ex-winger, now 55, said: “A few years ago it seemed like Scotland could not buy a try, but under Vern Cotter he stuck with a few young backs as they learnt their trade and he left a backline in pretty good shape for Gregor. As a player Gregor liked to attack and he seems to have a similar philosophy as a coach.

“He inherited a backline with key playmakers Finn Russell and Stuart Hogg driving things forward and he seems to have given the backs even more freedom to really attack with some pace when they get a chance.

“I watched Scotland a few months ago when they won in Sydney and – unlike other recent wins against big teams which were really built on good kicking and defence – they showed expansive back play and stretched the Wallabies.

“Hogg looks the class act in the side, he has quick feet and is a good decision maker – the Wallabies will need to keep an eye on him.”