Scotland down woeful Wallabies

Scotland down woeful Wallabies

21 Nov 2009

Matt Giteau missed a last-minute conversion in Australia’s 9-8 defeat to Scotland at Murrayfield.

Australia scored with the last move of the game – 20-phases of desperate attack finally culminating in Ryan Cross reducing the deficit to one point. But Giteau, who sunk just one of four attempts at goal, pushed the crucial kick, which saw Scotland break a 16-Test losing streak against the Wallabies.

It was a victory built on the bravest defensive display of any Test match this season. Perhaps one of the best in history. This report won’t reflect the exact number of tackles Scotland executed, but there is absolutely no doubt it was triple that of Australia.

Australia entered Scotland’s 22m area 43 times, but it was testament to the hosts’ immense defensive effort that they took 80 minutes to breach them.

Their physical, patient defence often forced the Wallabies to go lateral in their attacks. In addition, their strong ruck contest meant the visitors never got any flow and momentum into their attack, which aided their defensive task.

This was an awful performance from Robbie Deans’s charges – marked by fundamental handling errors, poor decision making and tactical naivety.

Australia seemed stuck between an expansive and pragmatic style, and the hybrid was an ugly, ineffective one.

They became even more disjointed when rain began to pelt down on the famous ground. In light of the testing conditions, they reverted to a kick-chase strategy, which failed to yield the desired results due to the poor execution of those punts.

When they did enter the Scottish red zone they looked devoid of creativity and conspired to botch a number of scoring opportunities, the worst offender being Stephen Moore, who, in the first half, broke through the midfield defence, but had neither the pace nor power to cross the tryline.

Giteau had earlier kicked a penalty to give his side the lead, but the pivot then missed the most elementary goal attempt and later skewed a drop goal from in front of the posts and under no pressure.

Scottish flyhalf Phil Godman’s penalty meant the sides went into half-time level at three all, despite the Wallabies having absolutely dominated possession and territory.

Giteau failed to shake his kicking woes, and missed his first pot at the posts in the second half. Scotland then turned over possession thrice in as many minutes on their five metre line, underlining Australia’s inability to capitalise on excellent scoring opportunities.

Scotland’s first real chance at five points came when they isolated Will Genia close to his tryline. Godman failed to convert the resultant penalty, but made no mistake with the next one, which unbelievably took his side into the lead.

Quade Cooper then butchered a superb scoring chance by opting to spin a pass wide to Drew Mitchell when he should have taken the simple option of offloading to Peter Hynes, who would have cantered in for the try.

Even so, one wondered how long the Scots could sustain their defensive effort and they answered that question emphatically by refusing to allow anyone in a gold shirt to make a metre – that until Cross ignited hope of victory with his late score. But Giteau didn’t even get his kick close to breaking Scottish hearts.

By Ryan Vrede


114 Comments

Pages: [1] 2 3 » Show All

  • 1.TheTackler: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 19:13 pm

    Oz by a million miles

  • 2.Johan Fourie: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 19:15 pm

    #1 TheTackler: Sadly agree.

  • 3.TheTackler: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 19:16 pm

    Nothing sad about that at all.

  • 4.Johan Fourie: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 19:19 pm

    #3 TheTackler: Supporting the underdogs here mate!

  • 5.TheTackler: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 19:26 pm

    Let those bandy-legged little bagpipers be smoked like a blimmin’ kipper in the swirling bushfires of Oz, I say…

    It’s UN World Celebrate Brutality Day today. Much yahooing in Zimbabwe, I’m unreliably informed.

    Bring it on!

    Ozzy ozzy ozzy.. oi oi oi !

  • 6.Johan Fourie: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 19:45 pm

    Come Scotlaaaaand!!!!

  • 7.klippies101: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 19:51 pm

    your a ****

    come on scotland the brave smash those criminal louts

  • 8.Puma: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 19:52 pm

    GO SCOTLAND. Just beat those Aussies.

  • 9.klippies101: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 19:53 pm

    O flower of Scotland
    When will we see
    Your like again
    That fought and died for
    Your wee bit hill and glen
    And stood against him
    Proud Edward’s army
    And sent him homeward
    Tae think again

  • 10.WP_: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 19:54 pm

    Go Scotland! Come on boys. They’re giving the cons a good run so far.

  • 11.cab: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 19:56 pm

    come on stodders’ lads…oops that might be the abs…either way looks like he’s going to have a good sat.

  • 12.Puma: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 20:13 pm

    GO SCOTLAND. Just do it. Beat these Aussies. Weather really bad there too.

  • 13.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 20:14 pm

    #1 TheTackler: 3-3 at HT

  • 14.babubunu: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 20:26 pm

    COME ON SCOTLAND!!!

  • 15.klippies101: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 20:32 pm

    time for some teachers highland cream very smooth whiskey my fav

  • 16.WP_: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 20:33 pm

    Come boys. Scottish looking good! Aussies rattled! Upset is on…. :)

  • 17.WP_: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 20:36 pm

    6-3 to the scots. Woo hoo!

  • 18.Puma: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 20:39 pm

    6/3 to Scotland.

    Yes, Go Scotland.

  • 19.Puma: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 20:51 pm

    Hang in there Scotland. Only 14min to go.

  • 20.SodaJoe: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 20:54 pm

    hey girls, anyone got a link for a live feed?

    C’mon Scotland.

  • 21.Puma: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 20:58 pm

    Hang in there Scotland only 9 min to go. Scotland throw in.

  • 22.Puma: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 20:59 pm

    #20 SodaJoe: Sorry Joe, have no idea. Scotland hanging in there for now.

  • 23.The_Green_Machine_is_a_Mean_Machine: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 21:01 pm

    I believe!

  • 24.SodaJoe: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 21:03 pm

    #22 Puma: Eish. Come on – love the underdog to win for a change.

  • 25.Johan Fourie: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 21:03 pm

    Go back to Australia and tell them there, Scotland are yours no more!

  • 26.Johan Fourie: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 21:03 pm

    Tell them Scotland is free!

  • 27.Puma: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 21:04 pm

    Drop Scotland. 9/3 to Scotland now. Just hang in there Scotland only 4 min to go.

  • 28.Delek: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 21:04 pm

    Dean’s hole deepens………..

  • 29.leerkassie: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 21:04 pm

    Tackler showing his rugby knowledge again… big win to Oz ..not.
    Does anyone know if tackler is a expat?

  • 30.Johan Fourie: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 21:05 pm

    Heheheeee!

  • 31.Puma: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 21:05 pm

    #24 SodaJoe: Loving this Joe, Scotland need to hang on. Scotland need to defend like demons now.

  • 32.SodaJoe: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 21:06 pm

    #29 leerkassie: Tackler is an ex SA living in New Zealand.

  • 33.SodaJoe: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 21:06 pm

    #31 Puma: Just great for the game. Keep me in the loop boet.

  • 34.Johan Fourie: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 21:07 pm

    #31 Puma: Can I pour you a “knertsie”?

  • 35.Puma: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 21:08 pm

    Bloody hell Os get a try in extra time. If they convert they win. Damn.

  • 36.Puma: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 21:08 pm

    #35 Puma: meant Oz

  • 37.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 21:10 pm

    #1 TheTackler: nice prediction tackles :)

  • 38.Puma: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 21:10 pm

    SCOTLAND WIN YYYYYYEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. OZ MISS AND DON’T CONVERT.

    WELL DONE SCOTLAND………………YEBO.

  • 39.Johan Fourie: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 21:11 pm

    Nice Scotland!

  • 40.Puma: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 21:11 pm

    #1 TheTackler: You so wrong :lol:

  • 41.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 21:11 pm

    Holy **** that’s funny!

  • 42.Kobus Kitty: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 21:12 pm

    Ahahahahaha

    That’s for 27 years of deprivation!

    I LOVE IT!!!!

  • 43.jonnymain: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 21:12 pm

    #1 TheTackler: Up yours mate!

  • 44.Puma: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 21:12 pm

    #34 Johan Fourie: Having a glass of win now…….hehehe. Damn feel great. Have mates there at Murryfield. Just sent them a sms now. Feel brilliant for them.

  • 45.Puma: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 21:12 pm

    win = wine

  • 46.Delek: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 21:12 pm

    Deans may soon be waltzing back to NZ………..

  • 47.The_Green_Machine_is_a_Mean_Machine: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 21:13 pm

    :) :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

  • 48.Puma: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 21:13 pm

    JockBok if you reading this WELL DONE TO SCOTLAND.

  • 49.Kobus Kitty: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 21:15 pm

    #1 TheTackler:

    Nice PREDICTION. aha..ah..ahh….ahhhh..ahaha

  • 50.SodaJoe: Reply to this comment
    21 Nov 2009, 21:16 pm

    Well – to all the Scots on Keo. Nice job guys. Enjoy.

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