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‘Took the Springboks…’: Why Scotland are favourites for Australia clash

Scotland's wing Darcy Graham dives over the line to score the try to equal Scotland's try-scoring record during the Autumn Nations Series International rugby union test match between Scotland and Portugal at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh on November 16, 2024. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP) (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Two-time Rugby World Cup winner Tim Horan considers Scotland the “favourite” for this weekend’s Autumn Nations Series clash with Australia. The Wallabies are unbeaten on their Spring Tour but will need to win at Murrayfield to keep their grand slam hopes alive.

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With coach Joe Schmidt at the helm, the Wallabies have generated some serious buzz in Australia after recording statement wins over England 42-37 at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium and a 52-20 demolition of Warren Gatland’s Wales at the Principality Stadium.

The British and Irish Lions Series is just around the corner, so this end-of-year tour was always going to be a crucial series of markers for the Wallabies. At least so far, the men in gold have passed every test that’s come their way, but it doesn’t get any easier.

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In the most recent meeting between the sides in 2022, Blair Kinghorn missed a last-minute penalty as Australia claimed a tight win at Murrayfield. But the Scots have won a majority of the last five Tests between the two proud rugby sides at their famed Edinburgh fortress.

While history won’t necessarily count for much once play gets underway in the early hours of Monday morning (AEDT), some may consider Australia the underdogs – as does Wallabies legend Tim Horan who expressed that view this week.

“Even though the Wallabies have won their last two Test matches, Scotland are favourite, and probably deserve to be where they are on the rankings,” Horan explained on Stan Sports’ Rugby Heaven. “They took the Springboks to the end.

“… You get confidence by winning, you get confidence by making sure your patterns of play are right so everyone’s confident going into this Wallaby (game). They’ll play, they won’t sit back and try and stop the Wallabies, the Wallabies will have to stop Scotland.”

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Scotland only won two of their five matches during this year’s Six Nations, and they were a slender 27-26 win over Wales in Cardiff and a Calcutta Cup triumph over the English 30-21. While they didn’t win another game, Gregor Townsend’s men still put on a show.

The Scots pushed international heavyweights France and Ireland close, and also put up a valiant fight against Italy’s Azzurri. More recently, they got the better of Fiji and performed admirably during a defeat to the two-time defending world champion Springboks.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins
4
Draws
0
Wins
1
Average Points scored
27
17
First try wins
80%
Home team wins
60%

“They’ve got Finn Russell, as is Darcy Graham the way he’s been playing. They’ll want to get the ball wide Scotland and attack the Wallabies out wide in that 15 channel,” Horan had said earlier.

“The way that Gregor Townsend coaches the team, it’s quick ruck ball, gets some switch, get across the advantage line so they actually play quite a similar way to the Wallabies.

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Shepherd: “Probably 12 or 13 of the guys that are going to be in the 23 this weekend, they play for the Glasgow Warriors… these guys are playing 30-plus games together. They’re very familiar with each other, the style of game they play.

“Gregor Townsend, of course, former coach of the Glasgow Warriors as well. It’s a familiarity that they’ve got and they’re going to be a tough team to beat. They’re certainly one of the most improved nations out of the tier ones.”

Go behind the scenes of both camps during the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa in 2021. Binge watch exclusively on RugbyPass TV now 

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Comments

3 Comments
H
Hellhound 19 days ago

Scotland should win this one, considering they are the settled team compared to Australia. However, that is no guarantee that they will win. The Aussies tails is up, and they are throwing everything at the opposition.


When the Aussie fans cracked up and got angry when Joe Schmidt was appointed, I said to them to be patient, that he will get them on the right track. They said that he is not Australian and he won nothing. Second best. I should mind my own business because I don't know the Aussie ways, which is true as I'm SA.


However, now that he is bringing in results, they are all changing their minds. Joe is all in when he coaches a team. There is no team he supports more than the team he coaches. His quality is shining through properly now.


It's going to be a very tight game, much tighter than people realise. Both teams is playing exciting rugby right now. They both want to win. I'd even go as far as marking this game as the top game of the weekend.

S
SK 19 days ago

If the Wallabies can cope with the intensity of the Scottish game theres no reason why they cant win. Scotland give teams the hurry up through the speed and quickness of their game and they can rack up alot of points really quickly but just as they can hustle they can also dive and at some point they begin to lose focus and intensity. Wales came back in the second half earlier this year, the Boks racked up 10 points in the final 10 minutes and Italy, Ireland and France took advantage of Scottish lulls in their games to win their matches. Aussies must make hay while the sun is shining to win.

m
mJ 19 days ago

Of course they are favourites but Scotland will now be seeing the Wallabies in a different light. Scotland starting team has had a week off also so should be fresh. But Australia has a couple of wins, some form, better cohesion and they’re getting to grips with the Schmidt game plan. Should be a cracker of a match.

r
rs 19 days ago

bookies concur with timmy. sportsbet odds scotland paying $1.68 for the win, wallabies $2.45.

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Head high tackle 1 hour ago
'Razor's conservatism is in danger of halting New Zealand's progress'

I really dont know what the problem is Nick. Cane was immense this year and no one below him demanded the job. TJ perhaps less so but he was always going to start the season at 9 anyway due to the thing they call experience. I think guys like Lakai will have learnt a lot from the likes of Cane and Ill garrantee TJ has helped the Roigard/Ratima/Hothem settle in to their roles much better than they would have had there been no experience around. At the start of 2024 these guys had 3 tests between them. Im glad TJ was around.

The biggest fail area from my pov is centre. Razors lack of desire to change what is clearly failing is a worry. Is he waiting for a full year of SR? Is he not sure? I dont know the answer of course but He fiddled where he shouldnt have and didnt touch the area he should have. WJ at 15 is an experiment. Its not a clear decision yet either. WJ is an amazing attacking player. He isnt an amazing kicker or an amazing decision maker.

The 10 position is being handled very badly too. Its Dmac but BB is constantly in there, Its BB but no 15 to back that up or its no one. GET RID of the centre pairing and get Love in at 15. The backs will function way better. All the players get their SR backs working far better than Razor has gotten, and with no dedicated backs coach in the ABs its a clear problem area.


Also this comparing SA with NZ when 1 side is retaining all their stars and the other side has had some major changes isnt a apples with apples comparison. Imagine comparing a F1 racing team where 1 team was 100% settled and the other was brand new....Just not a comparison worth doing as it proves nothing other than the blatently obvious.

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