Dominant Scots bring Wallabies’ grand slam dream to crashing halt

Tuipulotu, who played for the Rebels and the Junior Wallabies, scored the first try and was outstanding in a strong display from the home side, who effectively shut down the try-scoring potency of the Wallabies and ran up a score of their own late, against the tiring visitors.

With his Scotland-born grandmother Jaqueline in the stands, who was often flashed up on the big screen to great cheers, Tuipulotu led from the front and even went toe-to-toe in an argument with Suaalii after copping a “humungous hit” from the Aussie centre.

“When I popped up, I was just kind of looking around at who it was and then I saw that he was on the ground, so I said something to him and then he went off the pitch. That’s all I can really say about it,” Tuipulotu said post-game.

Asked about Suaalii’s injury post-match, Schmidt said: “Yeah, he’s got a pretty numb arm, but we’re hopeful it’s not too bad.”

Parts of the Wallabies’ game that had proved so effective in the Wallabies’ wins over Wales and England evaporated against the fast and physical Scots. After scoring 12 tries in the first two weekends, Australia were held to one try for the game – and it was a consolation one at that, with Harry Potter crossing in the 74th minute.

Scotland believed the Wallabies had not faced a team with their defensive strength yet and so it proved, with the big ball-runners unable to make yards and the rolling maul shut down repeatedly.

The Wallabies, in contrast, put themselves under pressure all game with poor discipline, giving away 14 penalties, and they also missed a killer 34 tackles.

The game was still in contest with the Wallabies trailing 13-6 at 50 minutes, but Scotland dominated the final half-hour, running in three more tries against a tiring Wallabies defence.

Coach Gregor Townsend said post-game it was the most caps he’d fielded as Scotland coach, and the hosts were comfortably the more settled and cohesive side on the field.

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Schmidt’s selections will come under some level of scrutiny, in that context, with influential pair Fraser McReight and Taniela Tupou both sitting on the sidelines at Murrayfield.

The Wallabies have avoided talk of trying to win a grand slam, but after the prospect was removed by Scotland, captain Harry Wilson conceded it was disappointing.

“Obviously, we were really trying to take it week-to-week, but I know everyone really wanted to be a part of a bit of history,” Wilson said.

“It does hurt but for us it’s pretty exciting to get the opportunity against Ireland in six days’ time.”

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