Edinburgh: Wallabies playmaker Bernard Foley has broken Scottish hearts just like he did seven years ago in a World Cup quarter-final with the final penalty of the match on Saturday evening to seal a dramatic 16-15 win at Murrayfield.
However, in the final minute of the match it looked like the Wallabies were about to be dealt the cruelest of blows before No.10 Blair Kinghorn missed a straightforward penalty with 18 seconds remaining.
The Wallabies trailed 15-6 with 20 minutes remaining but got themselves back in the contest when skipper James Slipper bagged just his second international try from 124 Tests.
Australia’s Andrew Kellaway is tackled by Scotland’s Darcy Graham in Edinburgh.Credit:PA
Scotland then gave away an offside penalty, which Foley knocked over the sticks with 10 minutes remaining to give the Wallabies a one-point advantage.
In a tense final period, Australia conceded a scrum penalty in Scotland’s end before Hunter Paisami was initially shown a yellow card for a deliberate knockdown.
However, the decision was bizarrely downgraded to just a penalty after Paisami had been given his marching orders.
Len Ikitau of Australia is challenged by Grant Gilchrist and Blair Kinghorn of Scotland.Credit:Getty Images
It looked like a bad dream was about to play out for the Wallabies when they conceded a penalty in their own half.
In front of a silent Murrayfield crowd, Kinghorn, the side’s rookie five-eighth, pushed the ball left to the Wallabies’ astonishment.
Moments later the men in gold had kicked the ball out to snap a three-game losing streak to Scotland and breathe a huge sigh of relief heading into next week’s Test against France.
Test matches are decided on big moments and things went the Wallabies’ way in a morale-boosting start to their spring tour.
This Scotland match was an important one in the context of Australia’s five-match tour. With France and Ireland to come – the top two ranked sides in the world – a loss against Scotland would make it difficult to finish the tour with a win rate above 50 per cent.
Michael Hooper’s return was great for team morale, but he was quickly reminded of the rigours of Test rugby as Scotland’s forwards worked furiously at the breakdown.
Earlier, the sight of 14-Test Wallaby Jack Dempsey in a blue jersey singing the Scottish national anthem elicited a big roar from the Murrayfield crowd.
It took next to no time for Tate McDermott to showcase his flair as Australia’s new starting halfback sliced through untouched from the base of a ruck for a superb 40-metre run before being bowled over attempting to chip and regather.
Although Australia enjoyed early territory and possession, Scotland pounced from their first entry into the Wallabies’ 22-metre zone in the 11th minute courtesy of fullback Ollie Smith who side-stepped his way around two defenders.
A Foley penalty got Australia back within two points, but the visitors lacked polish with ball in hand and knew they had to improve their cleanout work.
Scotland turned down shots at goal on two separate occasions in search of a five-pointer.
Camped on their own line, the Wallabies held off multiple Scottish attacking raids to come away unscathed as former Melbourne Rebels player Sione Tuipulotu bombed a try-scoring chance in open space down the right edge.
“Let’s make ’em pay,” one Wallabies player was heard saying.
Shortly down the other end, Australia did the same, trying to crash over with driving mauls but to no avail.
After an arm-wrestle of a first half, Australia found themselves ahead by a point thanks to a late penalty from Foley.
However, Foley produced a coach-killer after the break to gift Scotland a five-pointer.
Off first phase and with the scrum feed, Australia shifted the ball left in Scotland’s half before Foley dropped it cold.
The Wallabies failed to secure possession as Scotland kicked up field with Kinghorn sprinting through. He won the race to dot the ball down to make it 12-6. A penalty put Australia behind by nine points.
Debutant Jock Campbell entered the field in the 67th minute and had limited involvements but it will be a game he’ll never forget as Australia survived by the narrowest of margins.
