Australia won the first match of the autumn tour by one point in Scotland.
A last-minute penalty miss by Blair Kinghorn allowed Australia to snap a three-game losing streak against Scotland (16-15) in Edinburgh on Saturday for rugby’s first autumn Test match.
Executives such as Stuart Hogg are missing out because the match precedes the official window for autumn Test matches, which require international players to leave their clubs, with the Scots attracting workers from Glasgow and Edinburgh.
10 minutes later, after 10 minutes by the Australians, Scotland managed to score on their first attack.
22 After gaining a touch near the opposition meter, opener Blair Kinghorn launched back Ollie Smith before he hooked two opponents and flattened them (5-0, 11).
But apart from a fresh alert in the Australian line before the half-hour mark, most of the game was played in the Scottish half, with two successful penalties (14 and 40) allowing the sure boot of Bernard Foley to take the Wallabies. Lead at the break (6-5).
The opportunistic Scots regained the upper hand early in the second period. On a ball dropped by the opposition in the opposite 40m, Kinghorn crossed half the field with two low kicks to score a try (12-6, 43).
The Scottish opener made the score worse with a penalty (15-6, 54), but a yellow card for a dangerous tackle on second-row Glenn Young on the opposite scrum-half in the 56th gave the Australians a numerical advantage. Be critical.
This allowed Australia to win with a try from James Slipper converted by Kinghorn (15-13, 63rd) and eight minutes later, the opener would not allow his side to come back. Despite the scare at the end of the match.
Australia continue their Test series with a match against France next week before traveling to Italy and then Ireland and Wales. Scotland hosts Fiji, New Zealand and Argentina.
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