Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu scored a try against the land of his birth in a 27-13 win over Australia at Murrayfield on Sunday that dashed the Wallabies’ dream of a Grand Slam.
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Tuipulotu’s score helped give Scotland a narrow 7-3 lead at the break. But second half-tries from Duhan van der Merwe, Josh Bayliss and Finn Russell put the result beyond doubt.
By contrast, Australia could only manage two Noah Lolesio penalties and debutant Harry Potter’s converted try in reply.
Tuipulotu received the Hopetoun Cup from his Greenock-born grandmother — through her he qualifies for Scotland — after a team sponsor flew Jacqueline Thomson over from Australia to watch the match.
“It was an amazing moment,” he told the BBC of collecting the trophy “When she handed over the cup she said, ‘You got ’em!’”
The Wallabies came into this match following a last-gasp 42-37 win over England at Twickenham and a 52-20 rout of Wales earlier this month.
Victory on Sunday would have left Australia coach Joe Schmidt, formerly in charge of Ireland, bidding for a clean sweep of wins over the Home Nations — England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales — against his old side in Dublin next weekend.
But Scotland, increasingly fluent in attack after half-time, ensured there would be no repeat of Australia’s celebrated 1984 Grand Slam.
This success also meant Scotland ended their November campaign with the ‘statement win’ over a leading nation demanded by coach Gregor Townsend following a 32-15 loss to world champions South Africa this month.
Even so, Townsend was far from satisfied following an error-strewn opening 40 minutes from his side.
“There was more in us,” Townsend told the BBC. “We weren’t as accurate in the first half.
“It shows we can get a win when we’re not playing as well…We’re better than some of the aspects today, but I’m proud that the players found a way to win.”
Australia, who had initially made six changes to the team that won in Cardiff, were forced into two more.
Wallaby hooker Matt Faessler, was ruled out Saturday due to a calf injury, with Brandon Paenga-Amosa taking his place.
And shortly before Sunday’s kick-off lock Jeremy Williams withdrew through illness, with Lukhan Salakaia-Loto coming into the second row.
Despite the disruption, Lolesio’s penalty gave Australia a 12th-minute lead. Scotland, however, went 7-3 ahead in the 22nd minute.
A clever play saw hooker Ewan Ashman deliberately throw the ball over the top of the forwards to Melbourne-born centre Tuipulotu, who burst through Len Ikitau’s attempted tackle for a try converted by playmaker Russell.
Tuipulotu was then involved in a collision with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii that saw Australia’s rising star leave the field.
Scotland laid siege to Australia’s line but individual errors spoilt several promising positions to leave them just four points ahead at the break.
But a Russell penalty early in the second half pushed Scotland 10-3 ahead. A Scotland break-out move deep inside their own half led to an Australia drop-out from beneath the Wallabies’ posts.
From the kick reception, Scotland worked an overlap move in the 51st minute that allowed Van der Merwe to go over for his 30th try in 44 Tests as he regained outright the national try record from teammate Darcy Graham.
Russell curled in an awkward conversion from the touchline and Scotland had breathing space at 17-6.
Replacement flanker Bayliss, only just on the field, then surged over in the 67th minute as he powered away from a trio of would-be tacklers following a pass by Graham.
Three minutes later, a slick move involving Huw Jones and Blair Kinghorn, allowed Russell to burst through from close range, with Potter’s try too little too late for the Wallabies.
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