Wallabies’ ‘fire in the belly’ remains after Scotland loss
EDINBURGH, United Kingdom: Michael Hooper insisted Australia would be even more fired-up than usual against England next weekend after a 1513 loss to Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday ended the Wallabies’ five-match winning streak.
Australia now have just a six-day turnaround before a Test against an England side coached by former Australia boss Eddie Jones at Twickenham on Saturday where they will try to end a run of seven straight defeats by their old rivals.
“That’s a setback,” said Australia captain Hooper.
“The motivation was about going well today and continuing the momentum we’ve built in the year.”
Australia haven’t beaten England since a 33-15 success at Twickenham in the pool phase of the 2015 World Cup – a result that contributed to the hosts’ first-round exit and Jones’ appointment as Red Rose supremo.
“The record hasn’t been great, but a lot of these (Australia) guys haven’t played up here (Europe) and been a part of those games,” added Hooper.
“They don’t feel that stuff. “It’s a new team and it’s a great challenge for us next week to roll into England. The fire in the belly hasn’t extinguished at all. After that (losing to Scotland) it’s raised,” the flanker insisted.
Scotland’s Hamish Watson scored the only try of the first half before Rob Leota hit back for Australia when the Wallabies were a man down.
But an often scrappy game swung back in Scotland’s favour on the hour when substitute hooker Ewan Ashman marked his Test debut with a diving try at the corner – a score worthy of a wing.
James O’Connor’s penalty nudged Australia 13-12 ahead before opposing fly-half Finn Russell kicked Scotland 15-13 in front.
Scotland held out for the final 12 minutes although the result might have been different had not Hooper, forcing his way over from close range, seen a first-half try disallowed for dangerous play in the build-up by Allan Alaalatoa.
To make matters worse for the Wallabies, the prop was shown a yellow card by Romain Poite in the experienced French official’s final Test as a referee.
“I’m not one to have a crack at referees around decisions, but it was a pretty tough decision against us I thought,” said Australia coach Dave Rennie.