SCOTLAND HELD ON for a thrilling 24-19 Test win over Australia in Sydney on Saturday.
Israel Folau scored two first-half tries for the Wallabies at Allianz Stadium, but they were unable to fully capitalise on their opportunities.
A 61st-minute try from Hamish Watson proved decisive for Scotland, who ended a three-match losing streak against Australia and claimed a first ever win in Sydney.
Will Genia had crossed just five minutes earlier to give the Wallabies their first lead. Eto Nabuli started on his Wallabies debut, with Australia searching for a fourth straight win over Scotland, although the previous three encounters had been decided by a total of eight points.
The visitors were without Greig Laidlaw, Tommy Seymour and Stuart Hogg – all on British and Irish Lions duty, although the latter has suffered a tour-ending facial injury.
Scotland went ahead through a Greig Tonks penalty from distance, while Bernard Foley missed an easy chance to respond with the boot for the Wallabies.
The visitors were on top in the opening exchanges and they deservedly went over first through Duncan Taylor, who intercepted a pass and crossed untouched in the 14th minute. Just five minutes later and the Wallabies responded when Folau scored.
Australia shifted the ball left and Foley put Waratahs team-mate Folau into a huge gap out wide.
Foley was then shown a yellow card for a shoulder charge before Scotland went 17-7 up, Finn Russell charging down a kick from Genia to cross for an easy 26th-minute try.
Ryan Wilson was sent to the sin bin for Scotland just before half-time and Folau managed to produce some magic prior to the interval.
The former rugby league star leapt high and over Tonks, taking a Foley kick in the right corner to score his second try.
Both teams made a scrappy start to the second half before Genia scored, sneaking over from the base of a ruck in the 56th minute, with the Wallabies taking the lead via Foley’s conversion.
But Scotland responded soon after, a fine team try finishing with Watson going over in the corner.
The Wallabies pushed hard in the final 20 minutes but were unable to get past a gutsy Scotland defence as the visitors held on.
“It’s really a proud day for us all,” said coach Gregor Townsend, who has now won his first two games in charge after last week’s victory over Italy in Singapore.
“For everyone involved in Scottish rugby to blow away those frustrations of the last couple of seasons and come away with such an important win is a credit to the players.
“It’s down to the work over the last couple of seasons and the way the players have stuck to their task at training, they’ve learned from close defeats.”
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