Scotland’s Greig Laidlaw converted a penalty goal after the full-time hooter to cause a massive boilover, upsetting the more fancied Wallabies 9-6 in extreme conditions at Hunter Stadium.
The historic win means Scotland retain the Hopetoun Cup – the trophy awarded the winner of Test matches between Australia and Scotland.
To put it into context, it is Scotland’s first win in Australia in 30 years.
In recent head-to-head meetings, Australia had a 16-match winning streak (all venues) up until 2009, when they were pipped by Scotland 9-8 at Murrayfield. Australia were desperate for revenge but a hard-fought win will taste very sweet and live long as one of Scotland’s most memorable and historic wins.
With three first-choice fly-halves injured – Kurtley Beale, Quade Cooper and James O’Connor – Robbie Deans finally allowed Berrick Barnes to start at fly-half. And with five debutants drafted into the team, it meant a weakened line-up.
David Pocock was captaining the Wallabies for the first time in the absence of regular skipper James Horwill, who was is on the sidelines with a hamstring injury. Australia was understrength and underprepared but was still expected to win this match.
But incessant rain and ferocious winds played their part in a low-scoring, try-less match. While the backs were shivering with not much to do, the forward packs were working feverishly to gain territory and try to earn penalties and defend like hell when they were not in possession.
Astute defence from Scotland was the main reason they got themselves into a winning position, especially in the second half when Australia came close to the try-line, including one instance where the TMO adjudged the ball to be held up and disallowed a Rob Simmons try. That was as close a try as there was all night.
The decisive moment came when Australia kicked the ball dead, which handed possession to Scotland for the last few minutes. The Scots were good enough to hold onto the ball and earn a penalty and Laidlaw held his nerve to convert the winner.
A heroic win for Scotland and their coach Andy Robinson will be mighty proud.
Next up for the Wallabies is the first of a three Test match series on Saturday night in Brisbane against Wales who went unbeaten through the Six Nations earlier this year. The Welsh possess arguably the best scrum-half in the world, Mike Phillips, and so it promises to be a hard-fought series.
rob greenlaw
Guest
i would have loved to have seen the game in dry conditions,like at murryfield last time they met ,scotland won that too if i recall ,close too last kick of the game.,funny that......superiority complexes create huge expectations ,unfortunately they produce terrible disapointments,ultimately it is disrespect that is the winner
robdye
Guest
Seems that Scotland may have been disrespected, given the Tues evening slot. If this was a weakened Wobbly team by selection of tired legs (wotever) it needs to remember that Scotland were missing a handful too.
Dave
Guest
Seems like we are underestimating a good, talented Scotland side. There is nothing to blame - we fielded on form super15 players. Just remember however, that Scotland may play poorly at intl level but they held Wales to 3-3 at ht away, nearly beat France and England and could have beaten Itlay. Also, Edinburgh beat Toulouse, best team in France in top14. Glasgow also got great wins. Watch the match for those who haven't and you'll see we were outclassed by Scotland. Maybe we should actually show them some respect.
Will
Guest
Scotland and Australia have only played each other 7 times since 1998 (when the Hopetoun Cup was introduced). While I don't have the dates, between '82 and '98 they'll have played at least once every two to three years.
Hielan Laddy
Guest
I wasn't able to watch the match, but seems I don't need to! You lot used to refer to the English as winging poms. Say no more!
Maria Mene
Guest
I agree with Kiwi Dave....whilst I am a die hard Wallabies fan, I am unimpressed with their performance. After all we are talking about world first class players...who have a wealth of experience, knowledge and skills both collectively and as individuals, otherwise they would not have made the line-up...or am I kidding myself??? Deano can only do what he can do as a coach, he CANNOT run on and play the game that is the part of the players....unfortunately for this Wallabies fan it is probably time to invest in a NZ jersey and swap countries...sori guys but your abysmal game performance has gone on for far too long!!!
Hansie
Guest
Actually, Connolly has a superior winning percentage as Wallaby coach.
Anubis
Guest
Actually, I'm picking Wales to absolutely smash Australia. They looked undercooked. Maybe there really is too much rugby for these players. But the when your very first decision is god-aweful (winning the toss and electing to run into that crap), you're in trouble. Seriously, Wales to post 10-15 on them.
KiwiDave
Roar Guru
Do you really think it is Deans fault? Do you think you would have lost this match if you played it on a dry track? Fact is if the Wallabies were a racehorse you would scratch it the first sign of rain because they only go well on a dry track. Despite being a winter sport, the Wallabies have no idea how to play in the wet. Have a look at the Waratah's who played in the wet on the weekend. They were smashed by the Hurricanes because one side knew how to play in the wet and the other didn't. I am just curious what the Wallabies do in training when it is raining? Do they actually stay out and train in the wet to improve their wet weather skills or do they go running into the gym to do weights or something else to avoid getting wet. Wouldn't be surprised if its the latter.
Sir K1W1ana
Guest
This must be the biggest upset since Lazzarus was a boy. Too much reliance on the forwards. For heavens sake professionals should be able to catch a ball irrespective of the conditions. Considering that the Patron of the Scottish Rugby Union is the Queen's daughter and even her son played rugby for Scotland, this must be in the same league as Hillary climbing Everest on Coronation year. The Scots should be having porridge by the sackfull. LOSSTV and Andrew Slack do us no favours. Get rid of them. And NOW!
Choakers
Guest
What can we say. Let's take that title with pride from our Kiwi friends.
marknperth
Guest
what a disaster for australian rugby,theres no other way to view this result,scotland are the whipping boys of europe,no doubt the welsh will be greatly heartened and quite rightly fancy themselves for an upset as well.As for ch 9 what can be said of that farce except l hope they dont try to cover the olympics,just incompetent
jeznez
Roar Guru
Bakkies, those long range shots were relatively straight so the wind would have just helped on distance. The one they turned down was on his bad side and close enough to the side line that he would have had to judge the wind to reverse his natural draw and hook it around through the posts. An incredibly tough kick and I don't blame Pocock in the slightest for going for touch there.
katzilla
Roar Guru
Lost to Samoa last year but still won the 3 Nations and came third in the world cup. Alls not doom and gloom. You didn't even have that trophy in the cabinet so it's not like you lost anything? You could tick all the boxes for a first hit out but one.
AndyS
Guest
Realistically, the Wallabies were never going to come out with something different from the last couple of years on such short notice. So what that was was the Wallabies falling back on their most basic of underlying game plans. Personal opinion - if you had dodgy colour on your TV, reckon you could tell it from a Force match? Flatfooted, slow, unimaginative, unambitious and defensive, it leaves me undecided - is it Graham's plan that lingers still and he took from the Wallabies to the Force , or is it the Wallabies plan that he completely bought into? I'm starting to incline towards the latter, otherwise it shouldn't still be happening and Genia wouldn't look so comfortable sticking up gormless, unchased box kicks. I guess we'll get a better idea next year. For now, losing those two ranking points has the Wallabies needing to focus on avoiding fifth spot and the pool of death when 2015 is set end of this year.
RugbyTragic
Guest
I just want to vent about the woeful coverage of a Wallabies test match . Here we are with all these new digital channels and 9 couldn't even find one to show the match on live,nope they put it on after 11, why o why did the ARU give the rights to 9!!! Then I go to ABC digital radio to listen to the game only to find that they've got Craig Hamilton as the sideline eye,a guy who's spent his time bagging Rugby with Warren Ryan and David Morrow and comes up with sparkling lines tonight like 'isn't this Rob Simmons debut game?' great research there Craig! Rugby is going to continue its slide as a mainstream sport unless something is done to improve its exposure. Wake up ARU!!!
Bakkies
Guest
Yet Harris took a shot from half way in the second half yet they turned down shots close to the try. Instead going for the scrum. Brain dead tahs style Rugby.
p.Tah
Guest
I doubt it will be a long season and I back the Wallabies to win over Wales. The weather, particluarily the wind was freakish tonight and it determined the outcome. The Scots played better in the conditions. I doubt many of the Australians have played many games in that. It was so unpredictable. In fact I don't think I've seen conditions like that here (probably because I'm indoors if it occurs!) The Wallabies, Deans, JON will cop it, but seriously,I'm going to go all Matt Burke, but you had to be there to see what I mean about the weather. It didn't show up on the TV anywhere near as severe as what it was at the ground. Had it been slightly less cyclonic,, I believe the Wallabies would have won it, but they didn't and well done to the Scots.
2ndRowLegal
Guest
I don't agree with this 'minor test' attitude. It's a test. It doesn't matter what day it's on. We look like tits. Robbie Deans has again failed to value the Wallabies as an institution. JON certainly deserves some blame, but Deans has again lost an 'easy' game. Why is he allowed to continue to cause the decay of our playing standards? Maybe when we get beaten by Nepal RFU they'll look for another coach.
Cantab
Guest
0% he has been removed from the training squad.