Scotland tore up the record book in a joyous finish to the Autumn Test series with a record victory over a top-tier nation, scoring eight tries in humbling Australia in front of an ecstatic Murrayfield crowd.
The Scots were brutally ruthless in the second half after Wallaby prop Sekope Kepu was shown a red card for a mindless assault on Hamish Watson, when the Australians had just gone into a 12-10 lead.
Scotland had to shake off the loss of their talismanic star Stuart Hogg with a hip problem sustained in the warm-up, but Byron McGuigan came in for his first start and scored two tries, while Sean Maitland moved back to full back, scored one try and was outstanding in the role.
Australia pulled level at 17-17 early in the second half, but were swamped by an unstoppable deluge of Scottish attacking play for the rest of the game, the home side showing a pleasing ruthlessness with an extra man and continuing the onslaught right up until the final whistle for Stuart McInally’s eighth and final try.
It’s the first time the Scots have scored more than 50 points over one of the other top rugby nations, and they smashed their record points total and margin of victory over the Wallabies and all Southern Hemisphere opposition.
The Murrayfield crowd groaned when news of Hogg’s late withdrawl was announced as few had noticed him being led down the tunnel during the pre-match warm-up, and initially it seemed the team was more than a little distracted with a couple of early penalties taking the heat out of their early fire.
However Reece Hodge missed a long penalty and a tenacious series of defending phases brought a turnover penalty, a slick lineout and a 30-metre drive which brought the team and the home crowd to life.
McGuigan got warmed up with two storming runs and the Scots seemed to get warmed up as well with some great tempo stretching the Aussies, and forcing a simple penalty converted into three points by Russell.
And on 17 minutes McGuigan made his real impact as a loose Beale pass went to ground and the Sale wing hacked through, and although the ball spun away from him as it crossed the line it also avoided the retreating Michael Hooper and the 11th hour replacement was able to get the score, Russell converting.
McGuigan almost did it again after a sharp Russell touchline break only for Will Genia to get to the ball as it crossed the line. However the Scotland pack went early at the five metre scrum and the chance was lost.
Australia seemed to be just hanging on at this point but they rallied well thanks to a couple of key Scots mistakes and then hit their hosts with a quick double to give the Murrayfield crowd something to think about.
First was just good phase play and some big running wilting the Scottish defence, Bernard Foley’s little grubber allowing Tevita Kuridrani to continue his great scoring record against Scotland with a simple score.
But then the big centre struck again, up in support of Foley after Seymour had spilled a pass on the touchline and the Wallaby stand-off counter-attacked at pace, kick and regathered and was stopped just short by Maitland.
But the conversion was missed and at the restart Kepu’s inexplicable brainstorm changed the game, referee Pascal Gauzere having no option but to show a red card after he led with the shoulder to Watson’s head on a clearout.
Scotland made the most of the penalty and the extra man immediately, kicking to the corner, driving the lineout and Ali Price nipped around the maul and stretched out for the score, converted by Russell to allow the Scots to retake the lead.
Australia came back out a man down but with renewed purpose after the berak, and against some strangely passive Scottish defence made ground towards the line, Kurtly Beale darting between defenders for a try.
However Foley badly missed a simple conversion and Scotland quickly buried the Wallabies with four tries in 15 minutes.
Just three minutes after Beale’s try the full back tried to counterattack a fumble by McInally but the Wallabies spilled it themselves and Maitland motored down the touchline to score in the coner and restore Scotland’s lead.
Three minutes later replacement prop Jamie Bhatti went storming through the middle on a thrilling run, the Scots battered at the line and Jonny Gray only had to saunter over the line under the posts, Russell converting.
The Scots kept coming with purpose and Huw Jones burst through Kerevi’s weak tackle for another, and then a quick combination between Russell and Price got close to the line, the ball spread wide for McGuigan to score his second.
Replacement Lopeti Timani went over for a try for Australia as they tried to rally, but the Scots were just taking a short breather and skipper Barclay went through tackles for his try under the posts to the thunderous acclaim of the Murrayfield stands.
And for the final insult for the Wallabies, Beale was yellow carded for illegally throwing the ball into touch and the Scots scored their eighth try and went over 50 when Stuart McInally was at the end of the resultant lineout maul.
Scotland: S Maitland; T Seymour, H Jones, P Horne, B McGuigan; F Russell, A Price; D Marfo, S McInally, S Berghan; J Gray, G Gilchrist; J Barclay (capt), H Watson, R Wilson.
Replacements: F Brown for McInally 58, J Bhatti for Marfo 45, Z Fagerson for Berghan 45, B Toolis for Gilchrist 54, C du Preez for Watson 67, H Pyrgos for Price 67, P Burleigh for Horne 63, R Jackson for Maitland 73.
Australia: K Beale; M Koroibete, T Kuridrani, S Kerevi, R Hodge; B Foley, W Genia; S Sio, S Moore, S Kepu; R Simmons, B Enever; B McCalman, M Hooper (capt), S McMahon.
Replacements: T Polota-Nau for Moore 60, T Faulkner for Sio 72, T Tupou for McCalman 55, L Tui for Enever 55, L Timani for Simmons 68, N Phipps for Genia 57, K Hunt for Kerevi 62, H Speight for Koroibete 68.
Ref: P Gauzere (FFR)
