Wallabies defiant despite losing turgid arm-wrestle to Scotland

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The Wallabies’ woeful losing sequence has continued with a 15-12 defeat in a turgid, arm-wrestle of a Test against Scotland, but they’re adamant an improved display at Murrayfield…

The Wallabies’ woeful losing sequence has continued with a 15-12 defeat in a turgid, arm-wrestle of a Test against Scotland, but they’re adamant an improved display at Murrayfield suggests a win must be just around the corner.

Captain Harry Wilson couldn’t hide his disappointment at a fourth consecutive Australian Test loss on Sunday (Monday AEDT) but was proud of a much more resilient display from his men than their feeble capitulation against England.

In a drab Test to match a damp, grey day in Edinburgh, a greasy ball didn’t help as the two sides got bogged down in a stodgy affair where defences ruled, all very different to the dazzling high-drama served up by rivals over the rest of the Nations Championship weekend.

And as they at least succumbed to a much narrower loss than in their hammerings by England and twice by New Zealand, Les Kiss’s side did go down swinging, with a late Max Jorgensen try and a last-gasp break almost snatching a win from nowhere.

Still, there could be no complaints that the Scots, even without inspirational Aussie leader, Sione Tuipulotu, who pulled out an hour before the match with a knee injury, should land their fifth victory over Australia in their last six Tests.

There were 68 long minutes between Harry Potter’s 11th minute try to answer Matt Fagerson’s swift opener for Scotland, and Jorgensen’s late, late score but little for Australia to enthuse about in between in attack.

They did have Billy Pollard’s first-half try from a line-out ruled out for Jeremy Williams infringing in the drive, but the Scots also had one from Darcy Graham overturned after his fellow wing Kyle Steyn stepped on the touchline.

Ultimately, the Wallabies didn’t have enough enterprise to break through, even with Carter Gordon providing more of a playmaking spark.

And to rub it in, the decisive first-half try that put Scotland 12-5 up at the break came from the Scots’ former Wallaby, Jack Dempsey, who had a fine match.

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