Rugby-Scotland deepen Australia gloom with 15-12 Nations Championship victory

Scotland held on for a narrow 15-12 ​win over Australia in the Nations Championship at Murrayfield on ​Sunday, deepening the gloom for next year's World ‌Cup ​hosts.

Both sides scored two tries in an attritional and error-ridden battle that featured few moments of quality and a scoreless spell lasting more than 45 minutes. Matt Fagerson and Jack Dempsey went over for ‌Scotland in the opening 27 minutes and Finn Russell added a conversion for a 12-5 halftime lead.

Russell's penalty stretched the advantage to 15-5 with six minutes remaining, before Max Jorgensen crossed in the final minute and Ben Donaldson converted. Australia had opened their account through winger Harry ‌Potter's first-half try. It was an eighth successive loss in Europe for the Wallabies, who showed early promise when new coach Les Kiss ‌took over in August but now look devoid of confidence and in a rut.

Australia had been heavily beaten by England at Twickenham a week earlier. Captain Harry Wilson said Sunday's performance represented a significant improvement, but the losing run leaves them under growing pressure with less than a year before their home World Cup kicks off ⁠on October ​1. CAPTAIN MISSES OUT THROUGH INJURY

Scotland overcame ⁠the overnight loss of captain Sione Tuipulotu to injury with his replacement Tom Jordan setting up the first try in the eighth minute. Scrumhalf Ben White's passpicked out Fagerson, ⁠who was alone on the touchline and went over to give Scotland the lead.

Australia responded within three minutes after a sustained attack, flyhalf Carter Gordon ​delaying his pass before releasing Potter to score as Russell missed the tackle. Former Wallaby Dempsey finished off a pick and go, ⁠with Ewan Ashman and Fagerson driving towards the line and Dempsey carrying it over to put Scotland back ahead 12-5.

There were no more points until the 74th minute when ⁠Australia ​were penalised for not clearing away at the ruck and Russell tucked over the penalty for a 10-point lead. But Australia then suddenly burst into life and threatened to set up a dramatic comeback as Jorgensen finished off some slick handling with less than a ⁠minute left on the clock.

There was still time for Australia to collect the kick-off from Scotland and look for a winning try. They ⁠found some room on the left ⁠wing to threaten another score before being bundled into touch to end the contest. “It was a bit of an arm wrestle. Conditions played a part in that. It was a battle of the defences,” ‌said Rory Darge, who ‌captained the Scots in place of Tuipulotu.

(Writing by Mark Gleeson in ​Cape Town; Editing by Toby Davis)