Live: Wallabies’ grand slam quest moves to Murrayfield to face Scottish challenge

We’re only minutes away from kick-off, as both Scotland and the Wallabies enter the playing arena at Murrayfield ahead of the anthems.

It’s an afternoon match in Edinburgh and fortunately the sun is out and snow is nowhere to be seen, so hopefully we’ll have a free-flowing match on our hands.

The Wallabies have met Scotland on 34 occasions at Test level.

They have won 22 and lost 12.

In their most recent encounter, the Wallabies snuck home with a 16-15 triumph at Murrayfield in 2022.

But Scotland had won the previous three Tests and are no doubt backing their chances this morning.

As we reported earlier, the Wallabies were forced to make a late change to their starting line-up.

Jeremy Williams (illness) is out and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto is in.

Meanwhile, Nick Frost has been named on the reserves bench.

As mentioned already, the prospect of the Wallabies claiming the grand slam on their spring tour remains on the cards following the win over Wales and the upset 42-37 defeat of England at Twickenham a fortnight ago.

The Wallabies have only completed a grand slam once before, way back in 1984.

A triumph over Scotland would move the Wallabies a step closer to achieving the feat, although world number two and reigning Six Nations champions, Ireland, are their final opponent in Dublin next Sunday morning (AEDT).

Speaking in Edinburgh in the build-up to the Murrayfield clash, Joe Schmidt insisted he wasn’t looking ahead to Ireland, knowing Scotland poses a huge challenge for his squad.

“Scotland play a fantastic brand of rugby,” said New Zealand-born Schmidt, who coached Ireland to seven wins from eight matches against the Scots.

“They’re quick. During the World Cup, outside of the All Blacks, they played with more width than any other team. So you’ve got to be good across the field.”

It hasn’t been an easy preparation for the Wallabies, who have had to deal with snow and freezing conditions that forced them to train on artificial turf.

Prior to the convincing win over Portugal, world number six Scotland played two Tests to kick off its autumn internationals campaign.

The Scots thrashed Fiji 57-17 but went down to the world champion Springboks 32-15.

We mentioned Sione Tuipulotu qualifies to play for Scotland through his maternal grandmother, as does his brother Mosese.

Jaqueline Thomson hails from Greenock on Scotland’s west coast but moved to Australia decades ago.

In the lead-up to this morning’s (AEDT) Test there was an emotional reunion in Edinburgh involving Sione and Mosese, their mother Angelina, and 77-year-old Jaqueline, otherwise known as the “Greenock granny”.

Jaqueline also got to watch Mosese play for Scotland A against Chile on Sunday morning (AEDT).

I challenge you not to tear up watching this … I happily failed.

It’s a proud moment for Sione Tuipulotu, who will captain Scotland against his country of birth.

Tuipulotu, who was born in the Melbourne suburb of Frankston, came through the Victorian junior system to represent Australia at schoolboy and under-20 level.

After appearing for the Melbourne Rebels as their first homegrown player in Super Rugby, Tuipulotu headed overseas and eventually landed in Scotland, where his maternal grandmother was born (more about that in a moment).

The hard-running centre was eligible to play for Scotland and made his Test debut in 2021.

Tuipulotu’s inclusion is among a raft of changes Scotland coach Gregor Townsend made to his line-up to face the Wallabies after opting to field a second-string squad in last weekend’s 59-21 defeat of Portugal.

Former Wallabies back-rower Jack Dempsey, who has been capped 21 times by Scotland, was unavailable for this match because of injury.

Congratulations to number eight Matt Fagerson, who is playing his 50th Test.

Here’s the Scotland squad to take on the Wallabies:

15. Blair Kinghorn

14. Darcy Graham

13. Huw Jones

12. Sione Tuipulotu (c)

11. Duhan van der Merwe

10. Finn Russell

9. Ben White

8. Matt Fagerson

7.Rory Darge

6. Jamie Ritchie

5. Scott Cummings

4. Grant Gilchrist

3. Zander Fagerson

2. Ewan Ashman

1. Pierre Schoeman

Reserves:

16. Dylan Richardson

17. Rory Sutherland

18. Will Hurd

19. Alex Craig

20. Josh Bayliss

21. George Horne

22. Tom Jordan

23. Kyle Rowe

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has made several changes to the starting XV that hammered Wales 52-20 in Cardiff last week, including one just hours out from the start of the Scotland Test.

Lock Jeremy Williams has been ruled out due to illness, with Lukhan Salakaia-Loto moving from the reserves bench to the starting line-up.

Nick Frost, who was to be rested, takes a spot on the bench.

In another late change to the squad initially announced, hooker Matt Faessler — a three-try hero against the Welsh — was forced out of the Test due to a calf injury.

His place has been taken by Brandon Paenga-Amosa, with Billy Pollard named as the reserve rake on the bench.

Elsewhere in the pack, Harry Wilson is back from concussion to captain the Wallabies at number eight, while fellow back-rower Fraser McReight has been rested and replaced by Perth product Carlo Tizzano.

In the backs, Jake Gordon has been named at scrumhalf and code hopper Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii returns to the starting XV to pair up with Len Ikitau in the centres.

Meanwhile, Harry Potter has been selected on the wing to make his Test debut.

England-born Potter is the 18th debutant Schmidt has used in first season as Wallabies boss.

I could make a cringeworthy Harry Potter reference at this stage but you’ve been spared, as I’ve never read any of the books or watched the films so I’ve got nothin’.

Here’s the Wallabies’ squad to face Scotland:

15. Tom Wright

14. Andrew Kellaway

13. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii

12. Len Ikitau

11. Harry Potter

10. Noah Lolesio

9. Jake Gordon

8. Harry Wilson (c)

7. Carlo Tizzano

6. Rob Valetini

5. Will Skelton

4. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto

3. Allan Alaalatoa

2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa

1. Angus Bell

Reserves:

16. Billy Pollard

17. Isaac Kailea

18. Zane Nonggorr

19. Nick Frost

20. Langi Gleeson

21. Tate McDermott

22. Ben Donaldson

23. Max Jorgensen

G’day!

Welcome to ABC Sport’s digital coverage of the Wallabies’ Test against Scotland at the famous Murrayfield in Edinburgh.

I’m Luke Pentony and it’s my pleasure to have you on board for the latest stop in the Wallabies’ spring tour of the Home Nations.

Wallabies fans are up and about with the coveted grand slam still a possibility, but the tourists face a talented Scottish line-up looking to rain on their parade.

It promises to be an exciting clash so stick with us, whether it be morning, afternoon or evening in your neck of the woods!