Five things we learned as Scotland miss out on WXV title to Australia

The Australians got off to a flyer and were 21-0 up after 22 minutes, but by the 68th minute Scotland were 22-21 ahead. Australia then kicked a penalty with seven minutes left and scored a late try to win while the Scots finished with 13 players on the field.

On a plus side, Scotland have now rubberstamped their place at Rugby World Cup 2025 in England.

Italy defeated South Africa 23-19 earlier in the day to distinguish any title hopes the latter had leaving it down to these two sides.

At kick-off, Scotland (eight points) needed a win while Australia (10) knew a win or a draw would see them crowned champions.

In the first 10 minutes, both teams were really feeling each other out and there were no scoring chances of note.

However, with a penalty advantage two minutes later, Australia showed good handling and winger Desiree Miller sped away and scored the opening try. Stand-off Faitala Moleka converted and it was 7-0.

Scotland were giving away too many penalties and that was making it hard for them to get a foothold in the game.

And in the 17th minute Australia made it 14-0.

Again, it was neat hands in the midfield and they found the other edge, winger Maya Stewart showing similar pace to Miller to outstrip the defence and score. Moleka converted.

Everything was going Australia’s way here and, in the 22nd minute, they scored their third try. Moleka spotted space in behind the defence and a neat grubber kick put centre Cecilia Smith in for the score which was converted.

Scotland had to be the next team to score and they were when loosehead prop Leah Bartlett went over from short range under the posts after patient build up. Stand-off Helen Nelson converted.

Australia back-row Siokapesi Palu was then yellow carded for shoulder-on-head contact with Bartlett soon after following a chat between referee Clara Munarini and the TMO.

Two minutes into the sin bin period Scotland took advantage of having an extra player when a counter attack from winger Coreen Grant was then finished off by full-back Chloe Rollie after a neat pass from No.8 Evie Gallagher. It was Rollie’s 25th Scottish try, but it could not be converted and it was 21-12.

Moleka then missed a penalty for Australia and they had a nine point advantage at the interval.

Scotland replaced second-row Eva Donaldson with Louise McMillan at the break and Palu returned a minute into the half and it was 15 versus 15 again.

The Scots had a good spell of possession just before the 50th minute. They could not get try number three, but they were certainly on the front foot now.

And try number three did come in the 54th minute when replacement loosehead prop Anne Young, just on the field, went over under the posts for her first try for her country. Nelson missed the relatively simple conversion and it was 21-17.

The momentum was then stunted just before the hour mark when centre Emma Orr was yellow carded for a head-on-head tackle.

After a bunker review the yellow was upgraded to red after 64 minutes and it made Scotland’s task all the more difficult.

However, with 14 players Scotland kept battling away and, after good phase play, winger Francesca McGhie went over for an unconverted try in the 68th minute and suddenly they were 22-21 up.

The drama was far from done though and McGhie was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on before, in the 73rd minute, Moleka kicked a penalty given for another incident to make it 24-22.

Scotland, now with 13, tried their best to give it one last blast, but a late try from back-row Ashley Marsters, converted by Moleka, finished it at 31-22 and Scotland could not retain their title.

Here are five things we learned. 

Slow start gave Scotland a mountain to climb

Australia were good in the first 22 minutes, there is no doubt about that, but Scotland just were not like the Scotland we have come to expect over the last 18 months. They were making handling errors, rushing things and giving away a number of unnecessary penalties. They could not get settled and it meant they were 21-0 down before they knew it.

Miller (and Stewart) time was the killer early on

We had seen in Australia’s earlier competition wins over Wales and South Africa that wingers Desiree Miller and Maya Stewart were very dangerous. That continued this weekend and their side knew if they could get them a yard of space on the edge they would cause problems. They did that and both scored tries with the defence hardly laying a hand on them.

When Scotland started to play they caused real problems

Credit to them, they could have panicked when it was 21-0 or heads gone down, but 12 wins in the last 18 months has given them some belief and when they started to get more physical and take things up the middle then use their varied backline they had Australia on the back foot and dragged things back to 21-17 after 55 minutes.

The effort cannot be faulted

This will be a sore one for all of the Scotland squad and management to take because they know that the first 22 minutes really were not up to their usual standards, but after that they really did battle all the way. They were out on their feet at the end and they had run themselves to a standstill, Sadly effort does not win you games on its own.

This result does not define this team

This Scotland team have still won 12 out of their last 16 Tests and that progress from a 12 match losing run has to be recognised. The great thing is that this group of players and staff know they can still get better and hit new heights as they search for regular 80-minute performances. There are still plenty of positives heading into Rugby World Cup year in 2025.

Scotland: Chloe Rollie; Coreen Grant, Emma Orr, Lisa Thomson (Meryl Smith 67), Francesca McGhie; Helen Nelson, Leia Brebner-Holden (Caity Mattinson 50); Leah Bartlett (Anne Young 50), Lana Skeldon (Elis Martin 77), Elliann Clarke (Christine Belisle 50), Eva Donaldson (Louise McMillan 41), Sarah Bonar, Rachel Malcolm (C), Rachel McLachlan (Jade Konkel 56), Evie Gallagher.

Tries: Bartlett (28), Rollie (33), Young (55), McGhie (68)

Conversion: Nelson (28)

Yellow cards: Orr (59), McGhie (73)

Red card: Orr (64)

Australia: Caitlyn Halse; Maya Stewart (Lori Cramer 59), Georgina Friedrichs, Cecilia Smith (Trilleen Pomare 65), Desiree Miller; Faitala Moleka, Layne Morgan; Bridie O’Gorman (Sally Fuesina 74), Tania Naden, Eva Karpani (Alapeta Ngauamo 77), Kaitlan Leaney, Michaela Leonard (C) (Atasi Lafai 61), Siokapesi Palu, Ashley Marsters, Tabua Tuinakauvadra (Lucy Dinnen 77).

Tries: Miller (12), Stewart (17), Smith (22), Marsters (80)

Penalty: Moleka (73)

Conversions: Moleka (12, 17, 22 80)

Yellow card: Palu (31)

Referee: Referee: Clara Munarini (Italy)

Player of the match: Maya Stewart (Australia)