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The Wallabies hopes of an unbeaten (Grand Slam) tour of the UK were ended by Scotland’s 27-13 win at Edinburgh overnight.
“It was intense. I felt we were in the contest, particularly in the first half and we probably should’ve converted a few more points with the pressure we had,” coach Joe Schmidt told www.rugby.com.au after the game.
“The breakdown was pretty messy and I think that’s just the way Scotland like it.
“It makes it very difficult to construct your play and we also found it difficult trying to get past guys around the breakdown and that’s something we’ve got to solve.”
Schmidt also pointed to their defensive lapses.
“I thought we just fell off too many tackles. I think if you miss over 30 tackles in an international then you’re just not going to win them.”
The Wallabies were struck down with another late change after hooker Matt Faessler’s calf injury earlier in the week when lock Jeremy Williams was ruled out with illness.
The Wallabies started the scoring with a penalty goal to Noah Lolesio. 3-0.
Scotland then applied pressure as the Wallabies’ maul and scramble defence kept them at bay — at least for a while.
Scotland’s Australian-born skipper and centre Sione Tuipulotu then ran a direct line from a lineout to crash over for a converted try. 7-3.
The Wallabies’ injury woes continued when centre and expensive NRL recruit Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii came out of a tackle, clutching his wrist/arm.
He left the field and didn’t return although Wallabies officials remained confident that he had avoided serious damage.
The Wallabies were able to deny the Scots as the hosts took their 7-3 lead into the break.
When play resumed, winger Duhan van der Merwe scored in the corner to start the second half.
The Wallabies looked to fight their way back but their rolling maul was shut down by the Scottish pack.
Then Scot Darcy Graham broke the Australian line and sent Josh Bayless in to touch down in the corner.
Then Finn Russell finished off a well-worked move to secure the victory.
Debutant Harry Potter then finished off a Tate McDermott grubber kick for a consolation try.
The Wallabies other points came from a second Lolesio penalty kick.
WORLD SEVENS AWARD
Australia’s Maddison Levi has taken out the 2024 World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Year award.
Levi bested New Zealand counterparts Jorja Miller and Michaela Blyde to take out the award for the first time at the award ceremony in Monaco.
The 22-year-old has broken every sevens try-scoring record in the past 12 months.
This started in the 2023-24 Sevens world series when she scored 69 tries as Australia took out the title.
She followed this up with 14 tries at the Paris Olympics, the most by an individual at the Games.
Levi becomes the third Australian to ever take out the award alongside captain Charlotte Caslick and Emilee Cherry (nee Barton).
