Dominant Scots bring Wallabies’ grand slam dream to crashing halt

May Be Interested In:Richard White says resignation a ‘circuit-breaker’ for WiseTech


Debutant winger Harry Potter scored a consolation try in the 74th minute, to ensure they weren’t kept scoreless.

Loading

Tuipulotu was in the middle of everything and so too was his Scotland-born grandmother, who had been flown over from Australia as a surprise and was met with cheers when repeatedly shown on the big screen at the stadium.

The home side led 7-3 in a half that lacked points, but not action.

The Australian side had all the ball early and immediately turned to their rolling maul to try and pick up where it left off last week in Cardiff. But as would prove the case all half, the driving maul didn’t work as well and after spurning points early, a Noah Lolesio penalty in the 10th minute put the Wallabies on the board.

Hard-fought action continued but the Wallabies’ discipline, which had been good so far on tour, began to slip, and Scotland finally got some ball and territory and pushed for points.

A Finn Russell kick in behind the Australian defensive line almost yielded a try but the ball grubbered too far and past the dead ball line, with no Aussie defenders in cooee.

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii on the ground after getting injured.Credit: Getty Images

The Scots, too, turned down points several times to try for a try but were rebuffed, and a Russell penalty goal hit the posts in the 19th minute.

But the Wallabies’ ill-discipline gave Scotland field position again soon after and this time they made the most of it.

With a long lineout throw into the midfield, Tuipulotu caught the ball and burst through two attempted tackles from Andrew Kellaway and Len Ikitau to score.

Loading

Tuipulotu pointed to the crowd and the big screen flashed with his overwhelmed grandmother, to enormous cheers.

The Wallabies’ lineout and maul faded as badly as their discipline, and they couldn’t maintain any attacking possession thereafter.

Suaalii left the field in the 30th minute after clattering Tuipulotu in a strong cover tackle, but immediately grabbed his wrist as well. He and Tuipulotu then exchanged angry words when the Scottish captain came over to offer an interpretation of who’d come off best.

The home side had 90 per cent of possession in the last 15 minutes of the half, and that wasn’t helped by Australia repeatedly handing the ball back with poor discipline. They’d given away eight penalties by halftime and the sheds were a much-needed break in proceedings.

Things didn’t improve after oranges, though, when Scotland extended their lead with another penalty two minutes in from a penalty against Carlo Tizzano. The Force flanker won one back straight after the re-start though, scrubbing the error.

The onslaught wasn’t over. Scotland continued to attack with good speed and width on both sides of the field, and they profited with a second try in the 50th minute.

A gap on the left sideline was exploited and big Scottish winger Duhan van der Merwe eventually found himself as an extra man, and he crossed for a try and an 11-point Scotland lead.

Missed tackles from the Wallabies saw Scotland get in behind repeatedly, though, and replacement flanker Josh Bayliss did well to score in the right corner.

Russell scored soon when more missed tackles allowed Scotland to go on the attack again and put nice passes together.

share Share facebook pinterest whatsapp x print

Similar Content

Man arrested after stabbing at Western Sydney convenience store
Man arrested after stabbing at Western Sydney kebab store
Best of cartoons, November 28, 2024
Best of cartoons, November 28, 2024
Every pick from the 2024 AFL draft’s first round
Every pick from the 2024 AFL draft’s first round
High-tech robots coming to Perth
High-tech robots coming to Perth
Who is the rebel group fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad?
Who is the rebel group fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad?
Best of cartoons, December 3, 2024
Best of cartoons, December 3, 2024
Your World, Your News: Stay Informed | © 2024 | Daily News