As someone who grew up watching some great Wallaby sides, I have loved seeing Australia start to re-emerge as a proper force under Dave Rennie. Ably supported by a cast of canny assistants, the former Glasgow Warriors coach has overhauled structures on and off the pitch to the extent that they have already knocked over New Zealand and South Africa (twice) in the past 12 months. There have been some big defeats in there as well, but if they continue on the current trajectory, I fully expect Australia to be right up there among the favourites for the 2023 World Cup.
For me, the most impressive aspect of their recent work is the layer of steel they have managed to add without sacrificing any of the expansive intent that is so central to the identity of Rennie teams and Wallaby rugby itself.
You can clearly see the influence of coaches who have worked in the northern hemisphere and bring that utmost respect for the importance of collisions and the gainline. Today’s match at Murrayfield — one I’ve been looking forward to for weeks — will see both teams really going for it in attack, but I believe it’s what happens on and around that gainline which will determine the outcome regardless.
Even as they demolished Tonga last weekend, Scotland had a few issues in the collisions and subsequent breakdown battle. This afternoon, they will need to raise the intent, the accuracy and the aggression several notches, and Gregor Townsend will look to men like Jamie Ritchie, Hamish Watson and Grant Gilchrist to show the way.
Winning those collisions, finding a way to dilute and repel the waves of big men that Australia will throw at them, is absolutely key to Scotland’s hopes of being able to release the cluster of big threats behind the scrum.
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It’s a real sign of the evolution of both the team and individuals within it that we no longer find ourselves only talking about Finn Russell and Stuart Hogg going into a game like this. Just as worthy of attention are Ali Price, Duhan van der Merwe, Darcy Graham and those fantastic flankers, Watson and Ritchie.
When you add in the balance and the ballast of a centre pairing like Sam Johnson and Chris Harris, you can understand why Scotland now feel they have the armoury and the range to live with any opponent. Back in my own playing days, there was simply never a time when we could have contemplated not starting either of the wingers who scored six tries between them the previous week.
But Kyle Steyn — entirely reasonably — is on the bench today, and Rufus McLean does not even make it into the 23. There is also no place for a stalwart, and recent captain, like Stuart McInally, as Ewan Ashman gets his first chance to back up Townsend’s belief that he will be one of the hookers in the next World Cup squad.
Judging on form, experience and balance, this looks a formidably strong Scotland XV. My one concern is how the benches match up, not least in light of the fact that so many of the recent meetings between these teams have been so close, with the pivotal moments coming in the final half an hour.
For Australia, it will be a huge boost when, at 50 minutes or whatever, WIll Skelton and Kurtley Beale trot on. As with Rory Arnold of Toulouse, these guys have benefited from another bit of Rennie pragmatism, namely revising the
so-called Giteau Law to allow him to access more of his best players, irrespective of where they play their club stuff.
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When fully fit and firing, Skelton is one of my top five players in the world. Our paths crossed at Saracens, and I have never seen anyone make the game so ridiculously easy. Off the field, he was ridiculously laid back, but he could roll out of bed, get on the bus then produce a world-class performance without looking like he had broken sweat. It would be easy to hate someone like that, but when he’s on your team, you’re just thankful for the lift he gives you.
Skelton is huge and immensely physical, and having not played for his country since the week after his most recent Murrayfield outing in November 2016, he will be chomping at the bit to make a serious impact. It does not stretch the imagination to picture him being the difference in those closing stages.
Australia’s main challenge has been not only getting to field, but to get the best out of, guys who are a bit “different” in their approach. Beale definitely comes into that category, and so does James O’Connor, who starts at fly half today. I’m gutted Quade Cooper has not been able to travel due to pre-season commitments in Japan, but O’Connor is another maverick whose psyche Rennie seems to have been able to tap into.
Stripping back what they want to do has seen Australia make huge strides in the set piece. Having spent more days than I care to remember pushing behind Petrus du Plessis, I know the extreme diligence and attention to detail that man will be bringing to the Australian scrum, and the results have been there for all to witness. For so long, that Wallaby set piece was a standing joke, almost farcical at times, but they’ve progressed to the point where they were going toe-to-toe with the Springbok pack that did so much damage at the World Cup and against the Lions.
Australia’s lineout drive has also come on leaps and bounds, and that’s before it has featured the likes of Skelton and Arnold.
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In every respect, then, a big test — and opportunity — sits in front of Scotland today.