Ewan Ashman scored a debut try as Scotland thrilled a capacity Murrayfield crowd by edging out Australia 15-13 in a riveting autumn Test.
The 21-year-old Sale hooker – on as an early replacement for George Turner – touched down in the second half of a topsy-turvy match as Gregor Townsend’s burgeoning side pulled off another huge result after their Six Nations victories over England and France earlier this year.
Scotland’s Hamish Watson scored the only try of the first half, with Rob Leota replying for in-form Australia early in the second half.
Australia, ranked number three in the world and buoyed by a run of five consecutive wins, looked set to get the first points on the board in the fourth minute when they won a penalty just to the right of the posts, but James O’Connor sliced his kick wide from 30 metres out.
Scotland were forced into a change after just 11 minutes when Turner went off with a head injury to be replaced by debutant Ashman.
The Murrayfield crowd was in raptures after 22 minutes when Edinburgh back-row Watson touched down to break the deadlock after the Scots pushed their way over following a lineout just a few metres from the try-line.
After a delay while the TMO checked for an obstruction, Finn Russell made no mistake in kicking the conversion between the posts.
Australia were struggling to breach Scotland’s resistance, but they thought they had got themselves off and running in the 35th minute when Michael Hooper forced the ball down under the posts.
However, the try was ruled out after the TMO spotted some foul play with the shoulder by Allan Alaalatoa on Matt Fagerson. The Wallabies prop was duly sent to the sin-bin.
Four minutes after the restart, the Wallabies got themselves in front when Leota received a lay-off from Nic White, found a gap in the Scots’ defence and darted over the line. O’Connor was successful with the conversion.
The match swung back in the hosts’ favour in the 59th minute when Ashman was fed by Pierre Schoeman wide on the left and somehow managed to touch the ball down on the line despite the close attention of two Wallabies. Russell sent his kick wide of the post.
O’Connor edged Australia back in front with a penalty in the 64th minute after Watson went in off his feet at a ruck.
However, Scotland regained the initiative in the 68th minute when Russell kicked a penalty from 40 metres after the Australian scrum collapsed. It proved to be decisive in an exhilarating contest as Townsend’s classy team maintained their impressive momentum.
