Some stray thoughts from the match.
• Spare a thought for Scotland and their coach Vern Cotter - losing to the Wallabies by one point for the second time in a year, virtually, and this time the coach knowing that he wasn't wanted by Scotland and will move back to France.
• I can see why Huw Jones got his MOTM award for his brace of tries in his first starting test match - but can folks remember when he scored four tries in a Super Rugby match earlier in the year? He had a cracker in that game and looked like a future star. We are going to see and hear a lot more of H. Jones.
• But I would probably have given the gong to "Popeye" Pocock, even though I thought Scotland had the better back row, with no-frills 6. John Barclay getting a big shout from me also.
• That was a fine kick for the first Jones' try by Finn Russell, and one wondered why Foley didn't use a few himself until late in the game. But thank Huey that he had his goal-kicking boots on.
• 6N Player of the Tournament, fullback Stuart Hogg, didn't break the game open as is his habit, but at least he earned three points with the sneaky obstruction of Reece Hodge in the first minute of the game. Greig Laidlaw slotted a penalty goal soon after but should never have had the chance to.
• Kuridrani had a good, the bad and the ugly game: he seemed to trip over a blade of grass trying to tackle Jones when he scored his second try. When Kuridrani got a chance to redeem himself at the end of the game I was thinking "Pass the ball you farquing … oh that's OK then".
• Reece Hodge has found his right position now at inside centre but his combination with Kuridrani is not so stellar. And he dropped the Foley pass sent to him in front of Hooper; it was difficult for Hodge to sight the ball, which was a pity because he had only the fullback in front of him.
But methinks he is sometimes a step or two too far forward of the line of passes.
• Everybody agrees that Skelton was a dickhead and should have cost us the game. I felt no great joy when he came back on either and my heart was in my mouth in the last phases as he attempted to be the Great Redeemer and was trying too hard defending in contact.
• It was all the more galling to me because against Wales the Wobs had cut out some of the stupid stuff, especially the high tackles that had plagued them in the RC.
• It's not the first time Kepu has been pinged taking a couple of lazy steps in front of the offside line. I've watched him do that so regularly in Waratahs' games that I think he may have astigmatism, or some such, and isn't as far back as he thinks.
• Adam Coleman has gone up even further in my estimation because the effect of his absence was telling even though Simmons played well - it's a pity he has been ruled out of the rest of the tour. Rory Arnold was OK too but his fluffing of a lineout take of a good throw, led to the ball bouncing and Scotland retrieving it, and eventually scoring.
• Not to the above point but the Aussies should have stopped that try. The 13 that defended their goal line repeatedly against Wales in the RWC would have done better. It was a simple latch run by the Gray brothers, and well executed, but it was galling to see Scotland score like that in their first sally.
The Aussies should have presented a pair in a braced position and attacked the centre of gravity of the charge, but they acted singly and were too upright anyway.
At least the Aussie defence away from the goal line at the end made up for that poor effort.
• Phipps continues to impress with his dispatch of the ball, at least compared to some of his form earlier in the international season. Genia was not so effective in this game and his left-hand pass behind Folau made him turn and that led partly to the obstruction by Hodge, which ended the promising attack.
• Folau had some brilliant moments but could have gone to ground a couple of times. Ditto for Foley.
• Moore is playing better than in the RC, including his throwing to the lineout. You can't blame him for the lost lineout mentioned earlier - or for another one with about 15 minutes to go near his own line. Sometimes you have to give credit to opponents who make the right call and get up just in front.
• PS - Good job by James Horwill assisting Cotter and Paterson in the beIN commentary we got in Australia. He sounded like a natural who could be employed like that after he retires.
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