Scotland player ratings vs Australia | Nations Championship 2026

Scotland player ratings: Scotland bounced back from defeat by New Zealand to earn their fifth victory in six meetings with Australia under Gregor Townsend, but were relieved to hold on after a late Wallabies fightback threatened a different outcome.

The hosts led 12-5 at the interval courtesy of tries from Matt Fagerson and Jack Dempsey and had another score from Darcy Graham ruled out for a Kyle Steyn foot in touch.

But in a scrappy second half, their only points came via Finn Russell’s penalty with five minutes left, the lack of a bonus point denting their hopes of scraping into the top three of the Nations Championship northern hemisphere standings.

Here is how the Scotland players fared:

15. Blair Kinghorn – 6.5
Recalled at the back in preference to Kyle Rowe, who did little wrong against New Zealand, Kinghorn’s first pass was a little wobbly and looked slightly ponderous at times when joining the attack. But chased Russell’s grubber well to smother Gordon near his own line and a  more forceful presence in attack in the second period.

14. Kyle Steyn – 5.5
Always trying to get involved and held up short in the build-up to Matt Fagerson’s try after coming off his flank. Excellent improvisation to shin Russell’s grubber into the in-goal area from the right touchline, but was clearly in touch so Graham’s try was chalked off. Forced off for an HIA after 36 minutes, but passed it and returned for start of second half. But game didn’t really find him often enough.

13. Huw Jones – 5.5
Without his midfield mucker Tuipulotu, the ball didn’t seem to find him this week and there were none of the piercing line-breaks we saw against New Zealand. Only a few touches with ball in hand but part of a strong display in defence by the backline.

12. Tom Jordan – 8
Drafted into the starting side late on after the withdrawal of skipper Sione Tuipulotu, the versatile Bristol back was an aggressive presence on both sides of the ball, carrying hard into contact – there were 13 in all – and harrassing the Wallabies with his line speed in defence, hitting double figures for tackles. Claimed a high ball ahead of Gordon in the air and a lovely wrap-play with Russell in build-up to Graham’s ‘no-try’.  Excellent all-round effort.

11. Darcy Graham – 6
Playing on the left wing, rather than the right, for his country for the first time since the 2019 World Cup, Scotland’s record try-scorer misjudged a high bomb from Lonergan early on. Thought he had his 39^th Test try when he touched down Steyn’s shinned kick into the in-goal area, but disallowed for a Steyn foot in touch. Barely seen with ball in hand until a couple of second-half darts, but vital intervention at the death when he tackled Wright into touch to foil what looked a potential match-winning breakout.

10. Finn Russell – 6
A mixed bag with some pin-point kicking to the corners from penalties, a couple of delightfully-threaded grubber-kicks, one which almost produced a try for Graham. But a rare lapse in defence, missing a tackle on Potter out wide to allow the Wallabies wing to score. Also relieved when a scuffed goal-line drop-out straight to Lonergan was not punished with the Aussie scrum-half’s drop-goal attempt off target. Showed his class by tip-toeing down left touchline before offloading, but not a vintage outing.

9. Ben White – 5.5
Had his left knee heavily strapped for the second week in a row and appeared to lack some of his usual zip, with none of his usual darts around the fringes. But solid with his box-kicks and a scoring pass to Fagerson early on before giving way to Dobie after 51 minutes.

1. Rory Sutherland – 5
The Borderer only got 30 minutes last week, but retained in the starting side and at least had some scrummaging to do this week, though penalised twice in first half for technical offences. A handful of carries and tackles before departing early in the second half.

2. Ewan Ashman – 7.5
Accelerated into contact to super-charge the attack which led to Dempsey’s try and another strong display from the hooker, who hit nearly all his lineout targets – only one was picked off – and a big shift in defence too with 16 tackles. Won a superb turnover penalty on the floor and a double-hit with Jordan held up Valetini in an industrious outing.

3. Zander Fagerson – 5
Put himself about in the loose as usual with a handful of strong carries and nine tackles, but couldn’t get any dominance at scrum-time and penalised three times, first for collapsing a maul and twice at rucks either side of the interval. Replaced by Hurd on the hour.

4. Gregor Brown – 6
Forced to play on to the end last week with a shoulder stinger and cramp, the Aberdonian wasn’t involved as much this week, but a reliable source of lineout possession, strong in the carry and weighed in with his fair share of tackles too.

5. Scott Cummings – 5
Three hard carries and four tackles in his 25 minutes on the pitch and marshalled the lineout well. But looked to be in considerable pain when he limped off, which could be a concern for Townsend going forward.

6. Matt Fagerson – 7
Perhaps a tad fortunate to retain his place after a rusty display against the All Blacks following a month out, but justified Townsend’s faith with a much-improved performance. Took several lineouts, loitered on the right flank to take White’s pass and touch down his sixth Test try on his 68^th cap and part of a strong defensive display, topping Scotlan’ds tackle count with 17.

7. Rory Darge – 8
Leading his country for a 15^th time, including 10 occasions as a co-captain, Darge was part of a much more effective Scottish defensive effort and also carried the ball with purpose. Won an important turnover penalty with 14 minutes left just as Australia seemed to be building some momentum, and enjoyed three dominant hits among his dozen tackles.

8. Jack Dempsey – 7
A little sluggish by his own standards a week ago in his first competitive outing of the season, but the former Wallaby clearly relished going up against his former international team, scoring only his fourth try for Scotland when he forced his way underneath Alaalatoa from close range. Used his footwork to good effect to evade tacklers around the fringes and far and away Scotland’s leading ball-carrier, with 17, when he trooped off after 50 minutes.

Replacements: 6
Max Williamson entered the fray early for the injured Cummings and announced his presence with a thumping hit on Wilson. The lock also made a couple of strong carries as well as tidying up a loose ball in defence late on. Josh Bayliss and Gregor Hiddleston brought energy, and Ollie Leatherbarrow got 10 minutes on his Test debut, with a couple of strong carries. Jamie Dobie added some zip and calm at scrum-half for the last half-hour, and nailed some important clearing kicks. Will Hurd worked heard clearing rucks but not the usual impact from Pierre Schoeman, with only two carries from the prop.