Huge Wallabies win for Toony’s Terrors
Hamish Watson scores a try in front of Australia’s Richard Hardwick in Sydney yesterday.
Russell, who along with team-mate Allan Dell has been called up to the British & Irish Lions squad, added the extras to each touchdown, with Greig Tonks’ early penalty the other Scottish score.
It was the Dark Blues’ second win in succession Down Under, having also beaten theWallabies at Newcastle in 2012.
Israel Folau crossed over for a brace of first- half tries for the hosts, with Bernard Foley’s conversion making it 17- 12 at the break as they recovered from being 10-0 down.
Will Genia scored Australia’s third midway through the second half but the visitors held on for a famous win.
Delighted Scotland coach Gregor Townsend said: “The last 15 minutes are fresh in the mind and they required huge effort because the Wallabies had a lot of possession.
“You could see their line break when we were only five points up in our 22 with the crowd behind them. The effort to get back on the ball, and Alex Dunbar getting the turnover, was fantastic.
“If you have to defend 10 to 15 minutes against a team as brilliant in attack as that, you need strong bonds, and that is what this team has.
“A lot is about what happens when you have not got the ball.
“They made the right decision to drive the line out and keep possession in that last minute but it was a great bit of play from the Australian defence to get a turnover – then it was great play from us to get it back.”
Australia head coach Michael Cheika was full of praise for Scotland.
“We think they are a top team,” he said. Scotland coach Gregor Townsend. “They are a well- coached team. We knew what we were in for and got exactly what we expected.”
The visitors were first to settle, and when the hosts were spotted with hands in a ruck, Tonks stepped up and landed his first Test points from just inside the Wallabies’ half.
Defences were then very much on top, but when a poor pass from scrumhalf Genia was knocked straight into the hands of Scotland centre Taylor, he had a simple run-in.
Russell converted and the Scots were looking good for their lead, only to surrender the initiative when a string of penalties went against them, the final one leading to a maul on their line.
The threat of a Genia break sucked in the visiting defence and a long pass to full-back Folau presented him with the try and Foley landed the conversion.
Australia seemed determined to keep their opponents in the game, though, and a late tackle sent Foley to the sin-bin.
Seconds later, Genia took far too long over a clearance kick to let Russell charge it down, collect the ball on the full and touch down for a try.
The conversion restored Scotland’s 10-point lead.
After new boy Eto Nabuli on the wing had come within inches of crossing in the corner, Scotland No. 8 Ryan Wilson was sent to the sin- bin for slowing the resulting ruck.
It did not lead directly to the try but again the resulting maul pulled in Scottish defenders.
A cross kick by Foley found Folau on the touchline to leap above Tonks, claim the ball and roll over the line.
Foley missed the kick, however, and the gap was still five at the interval.
Soon after the break, Australia were on the fightback and they did work new centre Karmichael Hunt over.
But he lost the ball as he went for the line and Scotland managed to clear, holding out until Wilson came back on.
Ross Ford then came off the bench for his landmark 109th cap to equal Chris Paterson’s appearance record.
But he could do nothing to stem the string of penalties going against his side.
Wave after wave of attack came their way, until eventually a ruck right on the Scotland line gave Genia the chance to reach out and ground the ball on the line.
With Foley converting, Australia had taken the lead for the first time. But Scotland quickly hit back as they forced their way into the home 22.
Lee Jones bounced over the defence to find Taylor on a support line and put Watson in for the score before Russell converted.
Australia did their best to claw it back with Folau, Hunt and Tevita Kuridrani all within inches of scoring.
But somehow Scotland managed to find ways to stop them every time and they held on for the final whistle.