Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has said Australia “compete harder at breakdowns than any other team in world rugby” after his side ground out a 15–12 win at Murrayfield.
Townsend was speaking at his post-match press conference, filmed by Scotland Rugby News, after a wet Nations Championship Test that he called “a real arm wrestle”.
Scotland won nine turnovers to Australia’s six, according to the official match data, while the Wallabies made 10 line breaks to Scotland’s one and still lost.
READ MORE: Scotland v Australia stats: one line break to ten, and a Scotland win
‘The stats are out there’
Asked about a Test he rated as more physical than the 43–21 defeat to New Zealand a week earlier, Townsend pointed straight to the contact area.
“Yeah, it was more physical because of the nature of the game and defences could get on top,” Townsend said. “The stats are out there. Australia compete harder at breakdowns than any other team in world rugby.
“And I think them and Fiji have won the most jackals over the last 12 months. So we knew that was going to be an area that we had to get right.
“I think they maybe got one or two, but given our possession, I think we were very good in that contact area, but the ball was always slowed up.”
Scotland’s own breakdown work told late on. Rory Darge, captain on the day and player of the match, won a turnover in the 66th minute that ended a long Australian attack.
‘A tough physical team’
Townsend also singled out the Wallabies’ set piece.
“It was a real arm wrestle. We have a lot of respect for Australia set piece too… They put pressure on opposition line-out and the scrum is very aggressive. So they brought that out as well.
“Both of us obviously want to play more of a game of movement and of width, but we weren’t able to do that. But it really showed what a tough, physical team they are.”
The rain shaped the contest from the first minute, and Townsend said slower ball made life easy for defences on both sides.
“All it takes is the ball a little bit slower coming out of scrum-half’s hands or having to be adjusted in your catch for defences to then go up,” he said. “…So both teams did that and it meant that both attacks couldn’t really get going.”
Scotland held on after Max Jorgensen’s converted try in the 79th minute, and face Japan at Murrayfield on Saturday 21 November. Australia, who have now lost four Tests in a row, travel to Wales.
READ MORE: Scotland player ratings vs Australia: immense Darge leads 15-12 win
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