A combined total of three points has separated Scotland and Australia in their most recent two outings and we expect something similar at Murrayfield on Sunday.
For the Scots this is their final fixture of the year while the Wallabies have one more match after this when they end their prolonged campaign against Ireland.
But all of Australia‘s focus will be on a cold and wet Murrayfield this weekend as they look to build on what’s been a perfect tour thus far that has seen major progress made. A pulsating late triumph over England at Allianz Stadium and a canter against Wales in Cardiff has provided an injection of positivity and hope for the future.
Indeed, the Wallabies under Joe Schmidt are re𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 and look unrecognisable from the Eddie Jones era, as players snubbed by the latter are flourishing under the former. Tails are well and truly up as they arrive in Scotland confident, eager to move a step closer to a year-end Grand Slam, which Australia last achieved in 1984.
The Scots will no doubt be keen to defuse that optimism, however, as many of their front-line stars return looking to bounce back from the loss to South Africa.
It promises a great deal as a spectacle – weather permitting – as two sides that offer entertaining brands of rugby meet, with plenty of history between them adding to the subplot.
Where the game will be won
Australia possibly have the edge in terms of gainline carriers as forward trio Rob Valetini, Angus Bell and Will Skelton are three of the best in the business and, if they can establish dominance in this area, then front-foot ball will allow their talented backline to hit their straps, thus causing the Scots problems.
That leads on to how important execution will be as Scotland and Finn Russell will have no doubt been hurt by being kept try-less by South Africa a fortnight ago and improvement in this facet is key. If they are similarly wasteful it will cost them as this Australia attack is not, as Wales and England found out.
Last time they met
What they said
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend is desperate for victory over Australia that would provide his team with an incredible springboard heading into next year.
“[If we win] it will give us a massive boost going into the Six Nations because we’re playing a quality side,” he said.
“It’ll be frustrating if we don’t deliver a performance that we’ve been working towards. If we don’t at least match that performance of South Africa – that’s what we’re building towards.”
Meanwhile, Wallabies head coach Schmidt believes their hosts are at a very different stage of their journey and touched on the difficult conditions this week.
