Finn Russell scored 12 points as Scotland thwarted Australia’s quest for a Grand Slam with victory over the Wallabies at Murrayfield on Sunday.
Skipper Sione Tuipulotu scored a try against the land of his birth, with the Scots crossing the whitewash four times for a 27-13 win in their final Test of 2024.
The Australians, who had already beaten England and Wales over the past two weeks, conclude their tour against Ireland – previously coached by Wallaby boss Joe Schmidt — in Dublin next Saturday.
Tuipulotu’s score helped give Scotland a narrow 7-3 lead at the break but second half-tries from Duhan van der Merwe, Josh Bayliss and Russell put the result beyond doubt.
By contrast, Australia could only manage two Noah Lolesio penalties and debutant Harry Potter’s converted try in reply.
But Scotland ensured there would be no repeat of Australia’s celebrated 1984 Grand Slam.
Australia, who had initially made six changes to the team that won in Cardiff, were forced into two more.
Wallaby hooker Matt Faessler, was ruled out Saturday due to a calf injury, with Brandon Paenga-Amosa taking his place. And shortly before Sunday’s kick-off lock Jeremy Williams withdrew through illness, with Lukhan Salakaia-Loto coming into the second row.
Despite the disruption, Lolesio’s penalty gave Australia a 12th-minute lead. Scotland, however, went 7-3 ahead in the 22nd minute.
A clever play saw hooker Ewan Ashman deliberately throw the ball over the top of the forwards to Melbourne-born centre Tuipulotu, who burst through Len Ikitau’s attempted tackle for a try converted by Russell.
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Tuipulotu’s try was witnessed in the stands by his Greenock-born grandmother from whom he is qualified to represent Scotland.
The Scotland captain was then involved in a collision with Joseph Suaalii that saw the Australia rising star leave the field.
Scotland laid siege to Australia’s line but individual errors spoilt several promising positions to leave them just four points ahead at the break.
But a Russell penalty early in the second half left Scotland 10-3 ahead.
A Scotland break-out move deep inside their own half led to an Australia drop-out from beneath the Wallabies’ posts.
From the kick reception, Scotland worked an overlap move in the 51st minute that allowed Van der Merwe to go over for his 30th try in 44 Tests as he regained the national try record from teammate Darcy Graham.
Russell curled in an awkward conversion from the touchline and Scotland had breathing space at 17-6.
Replacement flanker Bayliss, only just on the field, then scored his fifth try in 10 Tests when he surged over in the 67th minute as he powered away from a trio of would-be tacklers following a pass by Graham.
And three minutes later, a slick move involving Huw Jones and Blair Kinghorn, allowed Russell to burst through from close range, with Potter’s try too little too late for the Wallabies.
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images
