Two late tries earned Australia a hard-fought win over Scotland at the World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy. Image: World Rugby 
SCOTLAND posted a brave and much improved performance in their round two match in the pool stage of the World Rugby U20 Championship at Stadio Luigi Zaffanellia in Viadana this afternoon, but ultimately came up short against an Australian side that recovered its self-respect and confidence following the massive defeat to South Africa last Sunday.
On the positive side, the Scots gained a bonus point from their four try haul, which could well prove valuable in the reckoning before they play their 4th and 5th round matches in what, bar a miracle in the final Pool A match against South Africa next Wednesday, looks certain to be the 9-12 ranked group. Moreover Scotland showed, at times good use of the ball when they attacked out wide. But there are bound to be some questions asked about what at times looked like soft defence when Australia used their muscle men in the five metre zone.
With the Championship being enlarged from 12 to 16 teams next year meaning no relegation this year, finishing last would not be a disaster for Kenny Murray‘s youngsters, but proving that they are more than just cannon fodder at this level will be a powerful internal driver for the squad.
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Individually, Ollie Duncan, with two tries to his name, showed up well, and there were impressive performances from Seb Stephen and Freddy Douglas. Behind the scrum, Hector Patterson looked sharp, half-back partner Matthew Urwin was unlucky to hit the posts twice with conversion attempts, while Fergus Watson continued to burnish his credentials on the wing.
There was little doubt that the Scots were seriously affected by losing both second-rows – Dan Halkon and then Dylan Cockburn, respectively, at and after the break – in addition to the departure after only 23 minutes of their influential No 8 Reuben Logan. The absence of both Halkon and Cockburn effectively killed off the Scots line-out potency, albeit Duncan performed a useful role in their absence, resulting in potential possession at the touchline being lost at vital moments.
Moreover, after doing well against England in the set scrum, Scotland came up against an Australia side determined not to be embarrassed in this phase of the game and, with quality subs to bring on from the bench, the young Wallabies had more than the edge in the set scrums.
Yet for all their emerging problems in the second half, the Scots actually led 24-17 at one stage after the break, but their inability to fully exploit the departure to the sin-bin of Australia’s replacement stand-off, Joey Fowler, was costly and game determining, and more so given the young Wallabies’ ability to score two tries in that period.
Despite a promising start from Scotland, it was Australia who were first to strike after a deft kick ahead by winger Cooper Watters that caused panic on the Scotland line. A knock-on was called and Australia earned a penalty from the scrum, with scrum-half James Martens taing a quick tap to sprint over unopposed for an unconverted try.
Scotland replied quickly with a try by co-captain Douglas from an effective driving maul five metres out. But no sooner had Scotland fans had time to celebrate than Australia added a second try, this time by their pacy 18-year-old wing Nick Conway who scorched round the Scots defence for a great score.
Harvey missed the conversion and then put a penalty attempt wide to leave the scores separated by just five points.
Then, when Scotland won a penalty courtesy Douglas, the Scots moved the ball from the ensuing line-out, attacking the Australian line but initially repelled. But when the ball was moved to the left, flanker Duncan was on hand to dot down in the corner from a long pass by Kerr Yule for another unconverted try to level the scores at 10-10.
The scoreline oscillated again, this time with a close range try for Australia by the powerful hooker Lipina Ata, Harvey breaking his kicking duck with the simple conversion.
A 50-22 by Urwin set up an attacking position for Scotland resulting in what seemed a try in the corner by debutant Jed Findlay, only for a marginal knock-on in the build up to be spotted by the TMO, meaning that the score was chalked off resulting in the young Wallabies going into the half-time break with a 17-10 advantage.
Scotland started the second half without their line-out specialist Halkon and in the event suffered at the touchline. But despite several line-out set-backs, Scotland made the best of starts with a try by Findlay, the full-back having the pace to glide through for a good score, which compensated for being denied towards the end of the first half. From the touchline Urwin added the conversion to level the scores at 17-17.
Having done well in the set-piece against England, the Scots conceded at third penalty at scrum time allowing the young Wallabies to kick to the corner and attack the Scotland line. Then, from a penalty award for offside, Australia opted for the scrum allowing Beau Morrison to charge at the line, but brilliant defence by Douglas and Urwin kept the ball from being grounded.
Australia suffered a further set-back minutes later when Fowler was yellow-carded for a dangerous clean-out. Scotland took advantage of their man advantage, moving the ball wide before clever inter-passing between Watson and Yule put Duncan over for his second try of the match, and the Scots’ bonus point score, skilfully converted from the touchline by replacement Isaac Coates.
Scotland had taken the lead for the fist time, and the junior Wallabies replied with a driving maul from which Martens was able to dart over for his second try of the game, Harvey putting over his second conversion to level the scores at 24-24.
Despite still being a man short, Australia were able to turn the screw, piling pressure on the Scots and ultimately profiting with a close range try by prop Finn Baxter, the conversion attempt by Harvey went wide.
A 50-22 kick then gave Australia the chance to effectively win the match and the powerful finish by prop Will Guilfoyle gave the Wallabies a 34-24 lead with five minutes of the game remaining.
Scotland tried their best to score a late try but in the event they lost possession that appeared to result in a hat-trick try for Martens, only for the TMO to point out an offside. The Scots still had a chance to claw back points but again their line-out went awry allowing the Australians to gain possession and secure a much needed bonus point win.
Teams –
Australia: S Harvey; C Watters, L Grover, M Enasio (X Rubens 72), N Conway; J Dillon (J Fowler 51), J Martens; N Tiitii, (F Baxter 47). L Ata (W Guilfoyle 63), E Langi (T King 56), J Mangelsdorf (O Aylmer 66), E Doyle, E Langi, T Robinson, B Morrison (T Brial 55).
Scotland: J Findlay; C V Wyk, J Ventisei, K Yule (J Hocking 72), F Watson; M Urwin (I Coates 58), H Patterson (N Cowan 65); O McKenna (B White 47), J Roberts, O Blyth-Lafferty (J Stewart 54), D Cockburn (S Stephen 54), D Halkon (M Fyffe 40), O Duncan, F Douglas, R Logan (C Moss 25)
Referee: L Weiner (USA)
Scorers –
Australia: Tries: Martens 2, Conway, Ata, Baxter, Guilfoyle; Cons: Harvey 2.
Scotland: Tries Douglas, Duncan 2, Findlay; Cons: Urwin, Coates .
Scoring Sequence (Australia first): 5-0; 5-5; 10-5; 10-10; 15-10; 17-10 (ht) 17-17; 17-22; 17-24; 22-24; 24-24; 29-24; 34-24.
Yellow cards –
Australia: Fowler
Man-of-the-Match: Behind a strong set of forwards, Australia’s scrum-half James Martens showed sharpness of mind in scoring two tries for his side and in doing so is the deserved MOTM
Talking point: Bar what was still some gaps in defence, Scotland gave it their best shot. But losing three important forwards proved to be too great a deficit to overcome. All the same, the Scots can take much from this game and notably their ability to score four tries. It was always going to be difficult against an Australia side that possessed powerful front-row players of Tongan extraction – the kind of physical specimens that so often appear in England teams these days. The question is: Why don’t such players arrive in Scotland?
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