Worrying signs as Wallabies leave it too late to fire in Scotland defeat

It might be unfair to be overly critical about the Wallabies' latest defeat, this time to Scotland at Murrayfield.

Its narrow nature, 15-12, is one aspect.

The conditions too have to be considered.

This was an afternoon of such monochrome dreariness that even Scotland couldn't muster much of their usual attacking verve, dank and grey, the lingering firework smoke above the playing surface reminiscent of some primordial Celtic realm

It was far removed from the bright lights of Friday night in Paris or Saturday afternoon in Cardiff.

Opposing skippers Rory Darge and Harry Wilson both referred to the game as descending into an arm-wrestle, though at times the contest we witnessed was so bad that calling it as such would almost be cruel to practitioners of that maligned pastime.

But then again, autumnal Scottish afternoons are just not what the proponents of free-flowing, attacking rugby union had in mind as ideal conditions for their craft.

Les Kiss said as much to UK broadcaster ITV, describing the game as "turgid".

"I think [Gregor Townsend] and I both would have preferred some drier weather," he added.

Undoubtedly, the conditions were reflected in the Scottish play as the hosts produced a litany of errors, most of which were a by-product of a series of over-complicated running lines that looked perfect when drawn up in the dryness and warmth of the training rooms, but less so when countered by the freezing rain and fast-pressing Wallabies defence.

That defence is worth pointing out as a positive.

The Wallabies had conceded seven tries in each of its previous three games, letting 138 points be scored against them. Shipping just two against Scotland marked a huge improvement.

But neither side hit the attacking heights both are capable of — a familiar failing of this Wallabies team at present.

Where the Scots limitations seemed a result of over complication, the Wallabies' attacking limits were self-imposed by the bland simplicity of their game plan.

Things started relatively well despite the tricky conditions.

Scotland barged their way up to the Wallabies line and spun the ball wide to an unmarked Matt Fagerson to open the scoring.

The Wallabies went up the other end and hit back immediately, Harry Potter finishing a move started by Carter Gordon's driving surge.

This was what the Wallabies didn't have against England; the fly half taking charge, double-pumping the pass as he approached the line before releasing Jeremy Williams, Len Ikitau and finally Potter to score.

A solid move, well constructed, well finished.

It took the best part of an hour before we saw anything of the like again from the men in gold.

Between times, fans were subject to a dour attacking display whenever the Wallabies had the ball in hand, the visitors relentlessly forced to retreat back up field before either kicking the ball away or flat-out losing it.

One-out runners with no passing, no speed in the back line movement, no width, no use of the thrilling attacking talents at their disposal, no way through the walls of Scottish defenders.

One of the most desperate passages came with about quarter of an hour remaining.

The Wallabies had forced a line out just outside the Scotland 22, a rare attacking chance. But through 18 phases of bland hit ups with little to no imagination the Wallabies went backwards a handful of metres, and then lost the ball to a Scotland turnover.

A kind observation would have been that the Wallabies were being patient, taking their time to find an opening in a Scottish defence that had significantly tightened its leash.

A less kind one would be that it was clueless and uninventive, destined to fail.

Neither side had anything like clean ball, a litany of errors plaguing the contest in the loose, with the chaotic breakdown simply adding to the confused display from both teams.

But the Wallabies showed they can attack when they want to, adding to the frustration of what had gone before.

Ben Donaldson came onto the field, shifting Gordon to centre and immediately made an impact, passing wide and giving the visitors the impetus to attack.

With almost his first phase of play, Donaldson immediately looked to move the ball wide, moving laterally at pace to open the Scotland defence — perhaps running himself into a starters spot in Cardiff next week.

Later, Donaldson spun the ball wide to Williams, whose flick pass out the back of the hand released Jorgensen to scoot down the line and score.

As the clock ticked into the red, the ball was again spun wide, Tate McDermott and Harry Wilson releasing Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, almost a non-entity both this week and last in an attacking sense but finally running with the ball in hand.

Jorgensen and Tom Wright were both involved before the later was bundled into touch, the gun-shy Wallabies now firing from the hip with alacrity.

Suaalii. Jorgensen. Wright. These names had barely been mentioned all game.

By the time they were, it was far too late.

Again, perhaps it's unfair to judge the Wallabies too harshly for a sour outing in which both teams struggled to rouse themselves from their mutual stupor.

So attention should shift to Wales, who now awaits inside the Principality Stadium next Sunday (AEDT).

The roof in Cardiff means "conditions" is not an excuse that can be laid down in case of another attacking no-show.

But Wales's defence may yet be just as stingy as it was against the All Blacks, where the Welsh made a stunning 346 tackles.

For reference, Scotland (154) and the Wallabies (194) combined to make 348 at Murrayfield.

The Wallabies have one more chance to prove they are moving in the right direction.

They would do well to find a way to unleash their attacking weapons before it's too late.