Match kicks off at 3.10pm (all times GMT)

Quiz of the week: records, rancour and rivalry

Scotland’s Rory Darge celebrates his side's second try scored by Jack Dempsey in an exciting encounter at Murrayfield. Photograph: Ian MacNicol - Nations Championship/Nations Championship/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenScotland’s Rory Darge celebrates his side's second try scored by Jack Dempsey in an exciting encounter at Murrayfield. Photograph: Ian MacNicol - Nations Championship/Nations Championship/Getty Images

35 min: They won’t be denied this time! The maul is such a potent weapon in this sport. All the more reason not to give soft penalties at the scrum.

Oh, but was there an Aussie infringment, possible obstruction, in the build up?

Yes, say the refereees, so NO TRY! The lifters at the line-out obstructed the ball and prevented the Scottish pack from having a fair crack at stopping the maul.

Russell hoofs it clear and the home team keep their advantage.

34 min: Z Fagerson brings the maul down illegally. Will he be shown a card? Not this time, but another penalty in the red zone will surely see someone get their marching orders. In that sequence, as Australia tried to work the space, Williamson smoked Wilson.

31 min: Scrum for Australia after a Scottish spill on halfway. Another error from the home pack, but this time it’s a full penalty. Gordon rakes a brilliant kick to the corner to set up a line-out five out. That really is a superb kick and now a great opportunity to hit back immediately.

The Aussie scores against his former team! No denying his allegiances with that meaty carry from close range. Really composed from Scotland after the maul five out was sacked well by the Wallabies. So Scotland went with the pick and go, pick and go. First Ashman, then Fagerson before Dempsey looked up, spotted a crack in the wall, and burrowed over. Russell this time lands the extras from just left of the sticks.

View image in fullscreenJack Dempsey scores the second Scotland try! Photograph: Jane Barlow/PA

27 min: Penalty for Scotland after about 10 phases from the line-out. They didn’t go forward much, but for a strong carry from Darge down the opposite end of the pitch. Then Valetini put in a mighty hit on Dempsey that encouraged his mates to come in for the steal, but they did so illegally so Scotland get a chance to kick to the corner, which they do.

25 min: After finding himself in a tangle at the line-out, which his team just about secured, Lonergan hoofs a decent touch finder with his heels touching his own line.

But it’s not gone very far so Scotland will have an opportunity to throw to the line just beyond the Australian 22. They’ll do so without their set piece leader as Cummins leaves the field having taken a nasty fall from the previous line-out. On comes Williamson.

24 min: NO TRY! So close to a stunner from Scotland. Off the line-out, Russell punted across the field, from the centre to the right, and Steyn ran round the covering Wallaby and managed to get a boot on it, kicking it back infield and over the try line where Graham swooped to dot down. But replays showed that the ball had crossed the perimeter of the pitch so it’ll be an Aussie line-out five from their own line.

View image in fullscreenIt’s so nearly a magical try for Scotland. Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images

23 min: There’s a charge down, oh, but Canham is off side! That was close. He saw a chance to get in White’s face as the Scotland 9 readied himself to box from a maul following a line-out, but the Aussie lock was little too early. So now Scotland get a chance to line-out inside Australia’s half.

22 min: Scotland pinch a turnover then make some ground down the right touch. But they’re soon turned over, after som Harlem Globetrotter style rugby with Steyn flinging a behind the back pass. The Aussies scramble and win the turnover on the ground as McReight smokes White, who had a dart, then gets to his feet to make the steal. There is no better jackal in the game.

20 min: Kinghorn catches a tester from Wright. Then Jorgensen fields a box kick. Gordon hoofs to the corner and forces Russell to try a banana kick to find touch. That all ends with a big net gain in territory for Australia. Gordon with the best punt in that sequence. Not necessarily long, but in the corner.

18 min: Lonergan receives Russell’s drop-out clearance and fancies an attempt at a drop-goal. He doesn’t quite catch all of it and misses.

17 min: The scrum takes an age to settle. We need a few goes before a free kick is awarded to Australia. That’s the second time the Scots have been pinned. A kick pins Kinghorn down in his own 22 but a lovely return has Gordon fielding. Potter runs it before the forwards get to work. Lonergan then hoists a box. Jorgensen catches it and Wright rakes a kick to the corner for Potter, but it’s fractionally long and Russell can field it and dot down in the goal area for a drop-out.

15 min: Back on the pitch, Scotland look to run it sooner after conceding. But they spill the ball in contact which means we’ll get an Aussie scrum just beyond their own 22.

Decent start this from both sides. Ball in hand they look threatening. White is having a really good game, zipping it about.

The gainline battle is something. Valetini and Wilson putting in some big hits.

Gregor Townsend told ITV: “Sione has trained all week. He was managing himself a little in training but we were confident he’d be fine for the game.

“In the captain’s run, which is the lightest session of the week, he didn’t feel as confident. We made the decision overnight it wasn’t worth the risk.

Magic from Harry Potter! Forgive me grabbing the lowest of hanging fruits but that really is a special finish from the winger. Australia’s first bit of possession had Gordon combine with multiple mates before Potter recieved it on the left wing. He still had a load of work to do, stepping off his right and holding off the challenge of two tacklers. He was brought to ground but wriggled and dotted down. Great finish.

The extras are missed from out wide so we’re all level.

View image in fullscreenHarry Potter and the Australian try. Photograph: Fred Palmer/Focus Images Ltd/Shutterstock

Scotland on the board! Great work, so clinical. From the scrum, they had perpetual go forward. First Jones then darge. Eventually White flung a wuick pass to Fagerson who was loitering on the right wing. He dived low to score in the corner. Russell couldn’t slot the extras, hitting the pole.

View image in fullscreenMatt Fagerson scores for Scotland. Photograph: Jamie Johnston/Focus Images Ltd/Shutterstock

8 min: Scotland win the scrum and Jones carries hard from first reciever. They’re pressing, so close….

6 min: The exit was made easy for Australia as Scotland were over eager at the scrum, giving away a free kick. But White is back over the ball after winning a line-out. Russell grubbers ahead and Gordon has to mop up. He’s swamped in the corner and there’s a turnover, Scotland on the ball. Alaalatoa steals it back but he knocks on! Almost from the prop, but that spill means Scotland get a scrum five out in the right corner. Great kick from Russell there, real class and awareness that out Gordon under pressure.

5 min: They look to maul but it splutters, so Ashman peels off and darts himself. They keep the ball but snake across the field, from right to left, without going forward. Eventually they spill it. Great defence from Australia who first halted the maul and then bossed the gainline. Valetini I think with the final hit that dislodged the ball. Scrum to the Wallabies on their own line.

View image in fullscreenAustralia's flanker Fraser McReight and Jack Dempsey compete for a high ball. Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images

4 min A very kickable penalty is instead hoofed to the corner. Right into the corner so Scotland get a throw five out.

2 min: A bit of kick tennis before White hoists a high ball. Scotland comes away with it as Dempsey, who used to play for Australia, runs it up. Scotland get an advantage as a Wallaby strays off side. Nothing comes of it so they get a penalty bang in front, about 30 metres back.

Flower of Scotland, sung a capella by a stacked Murrayfield, really is a special thing.

But all that energy is quickly evaporated with a slew of ads on the TV. I guess we all need to pay the bills.

Once these are done we’ll be getting stuck in.

They’re showing scenes inside the Scottish dressing room as both sets of players get ready to walk out onto the pitch.

First the Wallabies run out, then come the home favourites.

Both sets of players have a chance to right a few wrongs. You fear for the coach and captain who winds up on the wrong end of the result this afternoon.

There’s no shortage of Australian connections in the Scotland camp.

Captain Sione Tuipulotu was born and raised in Melbourne, represented Australia at Under-20 level and played for the Rebels before qualifying for Scotland through his Greenock-born grandmother. She famously flew over from Australia to surprise him and his brother Mosese before the Wallabies’ visit in 2024, then watched Sione score a try in Scotland’s 27-13 victory.

Then there’s Jack Dempsey, born in Sydney and capped 14 times by Australia, including at the 2019 World Cup, before switching allegiance in 2022 through his Scottish grandfather. His Scotland debut? Against Australia, naturally.

Even Gregor Townsend has a connection. He spent two seasons playing club rugby for Warringah in Sydney in the 1990s, where he crossed paths with future Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, then playing for Randwick.

According to the fans who have voted on the official Nations Championship site, Scotland have a 65% chance of victory.

Last week, after Australia produced an abject performance against England, I wrote that the hunt for a settled fly-half was akin to Dumbledore’s search for a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.

Well, Carter Gordon has been given the keys for this one. Can he do any better?

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Today’s match marks the 28th time that Russell and White have started together at half-back for Scotland.

That draws them level with Gregor Townsend and Bryan Redpath, who formed one of Scotland’s most enduring combinations.

Russell, incidentally, is on 96 caps and closing in on his own century, which he’ll reach in the Six Nations in front of his own fans against Wales on 13 February if his fitness permits.

Australia have traditionally held the upper hand in this fixture, but Scotland have won four of the last five meetings. Their most recent encounter ended in a comfortable 27-13 victory at Murrayfield in November 2024. The Wallabies’ only victory over Scotland since 2017 was a narrow 16-15 triumph in Edinburgh four years ago.

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Australia have reshuffled their side following last weekend’s heavy defeat by England, with Carter Gordon returning at fly-half after recovering from a broken leg.

The former rugby league recruit replaces Ben Donaldson and forms a half-back partnership with Ryan Lonergan.