Scotland – Australia: “It’s time for Townsend’s team to achieve results, not moments”

Autumn games don’t usually have the same significance as the Rugby Championship, but for both countries the feeling is a little different.

For Gregor Townsend, it’s a chance to end the year with a big scalp, a win that will propel them into next year, where they will beat faltering Italy and freshen up Ireland at home in the first two weekends of the Six Nations.

Lose, however, and it’s navel gazing time again.

Townsend didn’t hide from it on Friday. “This has to be one of the most experienced teams we’ve picked in the last eight to 10 years,” he said. “That must mean something.”

That’s as close to “no excuses” as you can get in Townsend’s case, which is a bold move given the way things have gone between the two countries over the past decade or so.

It is true that Scotland have won three of their last five matches, but eight of their last nine have been won by six points or less, including four which have been won by a single point.

Scotland are a stable team with 640 appearances in their starting line-up. Wallabies have 406.

Scotland are familiar with all the combinations on the pitch. Meanwhile, Australia have midfielders who have started one game together, a pair of locks who have never played together for their country and a debutant on the wing.

The Wallabies have been understandably love-bombed on this tour, particularly around Joseph Suaali, a fantastically talented center coming out of rugby league, and Tom Wright, currently one of the dangerous attacking full-backs in the global game.

However, they are still in the early stages of coaching with Schmidt. They score a lot, but also concede a lot. Their strengths are blindingly obvious, but Townsend is looking for weakness.

Suaalii is an attacking marvel, but no kid who has played just 100 minutes of Test rugby is a finished article. Playing at 13 requires a ton of defensive acumen and Suaali can’t achieve that after playing with just a little bit.

Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones will surely be keen to test the youngster’s defensive ability in the rarefied atmosphere of international rugby.

The Scotland team as a whole was predictable, with Jamie Ritchie getting the nod in one controversial back-row spot.

The former captain is going through a big moment in his Test life. Ritchie, just 28 years old, has been in and out of the big games in 2024.

He started with seven against Wales in the Six Nations; was not among the 23 for France; started with six against England; was on the bench in the match against Italy; was not in the squad against Ireland; was on the bench against the Boks this month and is now back in the starting six.

This should be a big day for Richie, both in the air and on the floor, where he excels.

This should be a big day for all Scotland players. This is a group of excellent individuals who constantly work to find consistency in potential champions. Jones called it. It’s time to take action and take action.