Worrying signs as Wallabies leave it too late to fire in Scotland defeat

详细摘要

The Wallabies once again showed precious little in an attacking sense, as Scotland edged a "turgid" encounter at Murrayfield. Time is running out for their attacking weapons to start firing.

It might be unfair to be overly critical about the Wallabies' latest defeat, this time to Scotland at Murrayfield.

This was an afternoon of such monochrome dreariness that even Scotland couldn't muster much of their usual attacking verve, dank and grey, the lingering firework smoke above the playing surface reminiscent of some primordial Celtic realm

It was far removed from the bright lights of Friday night in Paris or Saturday afternoon in Cardiff.

Opposing skippers Rory Darge and Harry Wilson both referred to the game as descending into an arm-wrestle, though at times the contest we witnessed was so bad that calling it as such would almost be cruel to practitioners of that maligned pastime.

But then again, autumnal Scottish afternoons are just not what the proponents of free-flowing, attacking rugby union had in mind as ideal conditions for their craft.

Les Kiss said as much to UK broadcaster ITV, describing the game as "turgid".

"I think [Gregor Townsend] and I both would have preferred some drier weather," he added.

Undoubtedly, the conditions were reflected in the Scottish play as the hosts produced a litany of errors, most of which were a by-product of a series of over-complicated running lines that looked perfect when drawn up in the dryness and warmth of the training rooms, but less so when countered by the freezing rain and fast-pressing Wallabies defence.

The Wallabies had conceded seven tries in each of its previous three games, letting 138 points be scored against them. Shipping just two against Scotland marked a huge improvement.

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