Scotland 22-23 Australia: Bernard Foley pips Vern Cotter's side again as Wallabies refuse to back down

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Different city, different contest, but this engrossing Test match finished in the same agonising fashion for Scotland as Australia came from behind to snatch victory in the closing stages with a kick from Bernard Foley.

If the World Cup quarter-final at Twickenham had warned the Wallabies of Scotland’s new-found threat last October, this opening autumn Test showed Vern Cotter’s troops to be the superior team for long spells.

Having opened the scoring and built up a 17-10 half-time lead with a double from Murrayfield newcomer Huw Jones, and stretched it to 22-13 early in the second with a Jonny Gray try, the Scots were in a good position to go and win a third Test against Australia in five meetings. 

Stephen Moore lifts the Hopetoun Cup after Australia's 23-22 win over Scotland at Murrayfield

Tevita Kuridrani's bulldozing run ended with a try which saw Bernard Foley kick for victory

Scotland prop Moray Low looks dejected after seeing his team lose their lead late on

But their grip on the game was prised open as Australia — even when down to 14 men — stepped up the intensity. With that came more penalties, some debatable, and centre Tevita Kuridrani exploited the one real chance they had in the final quarter to score, Foley’s conversion nicking it.

Scotland dominating this Test was a feat few predicted after the manner in which the Wallabies ripped apart Wales in Cardiff in a five-try win last weekend. 

But they looked good for their lead, the forward pack having more than matched the Australian bulk, even outshining world-class groundhogs David Pocock and Michael Hooper, while Greig Laidlaw and Finn Russell varied play superbly to allow Jones, Alex Dunbar, Stuart Hogg and the wings Tim Visser and Sean Maitland all to ask the visiting defence questions. 

It was a special occasion for Scotland hooker Ross Ford, becoming the third player to reach 100 caps, but it was either side of him Australia had honed their sights — on debutant loosehead prop Allan Dell and one-cap Zander Fagerson to be precise. 

With the Gray brothers, Jonny and Richie behind them, however, both met the challenge of a vastly more experienced Wallaby front-row head on.

Scotland showed their intent in the first minute when Stuart Hogg unleashed Alex Dunbar with a beautifully delayed pass and the centre weaved his way into the Wallabies 22. The Scots were rewarded with a penalty for offside which Laidlaw kicked from in front of the posts. 

Huw Jones celebrates his and Scotland's first try as Vern Cotter's side took an early lead

Restarts gave the Wallabies a hook in the game and the Scots lost No 8 Ryan Wilson after just two minutes to an ankle injury, but with John Hardie on, John Barclay and Hamish Watson excelled, Scotland were superb around the rucks.

Murrayfield erupted after some of the brightest rugby seen from Scotland in years.

The team played out of their own 22 and from a line-out attack, Russell superbly dinked a chip over the Wallaby back-line.

Jones, on his second cap, beat Israel Folau to the bouncing ball and swerved into open space on a 25-metre sprint to the posts. Laidlaw converted and, with eight minutes played, Scotland led 10-0.

However, the Wallabies scored off the next phase, with a simple but well-executed try. It started with a lineout on the right and centre Reece Hodge finished it with strong running on the left, but the try owed everything to the skilful loop of Foley in midfield. Kuridrani foxed defenders with his decoy run and Sean Maitland and Jones tackled the same man.

They seemed set to score again when Hooper broke into the home half with options either side, but Will Genia’s final pass for the try was intercepted by Jones five metres from the line and Scotland survived. A scrum penalty against Fagerson let Foley level matters after 23 minutes and Laidlaw fell short with a long-range effort. 

Reece Hodge hit back for the Wallabies in the 13th minute and drew level 10-10 shortly after

But the Scots kept the foot to the accelerator. Visser broke the line on the left touchline before being thwarted, Watson charged through the middle and then Richie Gray took it on, and, when the ball was shipped left, Fagerson fed Jones who dodged Kuridrani’s tackle — and rounded the posts for his second score, again converted by Laidlaw.

Scotland were playing with a terrific alacrity, hitting rucks hard and fast, freeing quick ball, with Watson, Hardie and Barclay outshining Hooper, Pocock and Lopeti Timani. Australia were dangerous off line-outs, and they stole one on 33 minutes, but Scotland’s defence stood up to everything the Wallabies could muster.

Scotland’s problems with restarts continued, however, and led to an early Foley penalty after the break, but the hosts responded quickly. Laidlaw plucked the ball from a retreating scrum on the 22 and fed Hogg.

The full-back was stopped short on the next phase but Jonny Gray battered to the line with his brother Richie in support — and after consultation with the TMO referee, John Lacey confirmed the try.

Jones doubled his tally on his Murrayfield bow to put the Scots in front again before the break

The Scots were moving the ball at breakneck speed but that only made the collisions more dangerous. Ryan Wilson limped off after just five minutes while Richie Gray was also forced off for a spell after a bang to the head.

In the confusion, the Wallabies hit back. Israel Folau and Dane Haylett-Petty did the damage with a clever exchange of passes and with the Scots struggling to get themselves into covering positions, Hodge dived over after 12 minutes.

Foley added the extras before drawing the sides level with a penalty, while Laidlaw could only skew wide with a kick of his own

Jonny Gray got over to make it 22-10 to the Scots in the second half but it was not enough

Laidlaw’s conversion came back off the post, and although Scotland now held a nine-point lead eight minutes into the second half, that bit of bad luck was to prove costly.

The Wallabies were getting the upper hand in the scrum and Foley converted another penalty from a collapse.

Referee Lacey was beginning to see more things Australia’s way. There was more bad news for Scotland when Hardie fell awkwardly after leaping for an overthrown line-out, which forced Grant Gilchrist on at blindside flanker. 

Scotland were forced to readjust when replacement flanker John Hardie was forced off

Kuridrani sticks out a hand to get the ball down next to the post and set up Foley's winning kick

Scotland were given a lifeline when 22-stone Wallaby replacement Will Skelton was rightly shown a yellow card when the TMO Simon McDowell picked up a dangerous shoulder charge on Jonny Gray.

But Scotland by then were spending more time than they would like in their own half, and their failure to release the pressure cost them as Kuridrani slipped between tackles from Peter Horne and Jones — he then reached out an arm to touch the ball on the line at the posts.

Foley converted the easy kick to put Australia in front for the first time in the game, with four minutes left, Again by that solitary point at 23-22, and despite a record Murrayfield crowd for this Test roaring them on, the visibly drained players could not manufacture another final score.

The Wallabies fly-half nervelessly converted the extra points to give Australia their first lead