Tevita Kuridrani’s try with four minutes left meant another heartbreaking loss for Scotland against Australia in the opening Autumn Test at BT Murrayfield.
The Scots had led for the majority of the game after scoring three tries, two from centre Huw Jones and the other by Jonny Gray, but clearly tired in the second half and were hanging on in defence for long periods before the big centre crashed through at the posts late on.
It was another heartbreaker for Scotland after the similarly close World Cup quarter-final against the Wallabies last year, but there were huge positives for the side even if they couldn’t quite hold out for what would have been a notable victory.
Jones had a fine game on his Murrayfield debut and the Scots showed some fine innovation in attack, but lack of ball in the second half – when they had three locks on the pitch due to injuries – eventually told.
Scotland talked about a flying start, and they got one on their first possession when Alex Dunbar shot through a gap on a flat Stuart Hogg pass, Sekope Kepu was caught offside as the Scots pressed inside the 22 and Greig Laidlaw kicked the penalty.
Even better was to come as Richie Gray took Scotland’s first lineout off the top, Finn Russell chipped into no man’s land behind the onrushing Wallabies defence, and Jones beat Israel Folau to the ball to sprint over from 30 metres out, Laidlaw converting for a 10-0 lead with just eight minutes played.
If Australia were rattled they didn’t show it, coming straight back with their own try off first phase lineout ball, Rhys Hodge slicing through a gap to score against a confused defence after Bernard Foley had looped around Kuridrani.
When Foley landed a penalty to level the scores after the Scots were penalised at the scrum, the home side were hanging on a little with a Jones interception and John Barclay steal barely holding the Wallabies at bay.
But instead the Scots retook the lead after 27 minutes when Russell and Dunbar worked space for Visser up the left touchline, the stand-off then darting through a gap and off-loading to Richie Gray to get within five metres.
The Scots stayed cool in the scoring zone and Jones was able to step through Kuridrani’s tackle and go in for his second try, Laidlaw again converting.
Foley reduced the deficit with an early penalty for Australia, but the Scots came straight back with their third try of the match.
From creaking scrum ball ten metres out, Laidlaw and Hogg recovered and took it forward, and Jonny Gray couldn’t be stopped from close range.
Laidlaw hit the post with his conversion and the Scots were then forced into almost constant defence for a half-hour period, not helped by losing John Hardie who himself had come on for Ryan Wilson early on.
A Ross Ford interception and another Barclay steal kept Australia at bay but Foley kicked his side within a converted try and the penalty count started to swing against the home side.
Scotland seemed to get a lifeline when Will Skelton was yellow carded for a late hit on Jonny Gray, but instead when a man down Australia’s pressure finally told.
The Scots thought they had a turnover but the Wallabies retrieved ball and Kuridrani took tacklers over the line with him, stretching out for the score. Foley converted from straight in front to take Australia ahead for the first time in the game.
The Scots got one last chance but couldn’t force the ball into the 22 for a last gasp drop goal attempt and the ball was fumbled into touch.
Att: 65,395
Scotland: S Hogg (Glasgow); S Maitland (Saracens), H Jones (Stormers), A Dunbar (Glasgow, rep P Horne (Glasgow) 69); F Russell (Glasgow), G Laidlaw (Gloucester, capt); A Dell (Edinburgh, rep G Reid (Glasgow ) 52), R Ford (Edinburgh, rep F Brown (Glasgow) 56 ), Z Fagerson (Glasgow, rep M Low (Exeter) 68); R Gray (Toulouse), J Gray (Glasgow); J Barclay (Scarlets), H Watson (Edinburgh), R Wilson (Glasgow, rep J Hardie(Edinburgh) 5, rep G Gilchrist (Edinburgh) 62).
Australia: I Folau; D Haylett-Perry, T Kuridrani, R Hodge, H Speight; B Foley, W Genia (N Phipps 68); S Sio (T Robertson 73), S Moore (capt), S Kepu (A Alaatoa 62); R Arnold (D Mumm 49), A Coleman (R Simmons 5); D Pocock, M Hopper, L Timani (W Skelton 62).
Ref: J Lacey (IRFU)