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MIDDLE: AUSTRALIA 40-0 SCOTLAND
40 minutes into the half. 40 points on the board. You don’t need to know much more than that. In any case, the score flatters the Scots. They have been absolutely beaten in every facet of the game.
Australia dominant in defence. Dominant in attack. Clinic with ball in hand. Ruthless in the collision. Accurate from the boot. Printer in the red zone.
Cleary is the real deal. He is dazzling whenever he touches the ball. Wighton has carved holes in midfield like he owns the place and Addo-Carr will surely pay a speeding ticket after this game after breaking the sound barrier with those jet heels.
The game is done. Now it’s just a matter of how much.
Catch you after the break.
39 mins: Tedesco collects a strange hack from a Scottish boot and scores. Australia kicked behind the line but the Scots cleared. It’s getting a little messy as we close the middle. Scotland return to the ball down the right.
TRY! Australia 40-0 Scotland (Wighton, 35)
I’m struggling to keep up, it’s a try-fest! Scotland’s defenders are in tatters. They just ran out of gas. Martin takes advantage, cutting a gap in the middle of the field, darting upfield. He has enough presence of mind to look back and plays the perfect pass for Wighton making a great support line. Two more from Cleary’s boot. We already have more points than minutes.
TRY! Australia 34-0 Scotland (Addo-Carr, 32)
Close the front door. These are serious wheels. Hayward is pinned in the inbounds and coughs the ball up the middle of the field. Australia pounces on him and moves him to the left. It goes up to Addo-Carr who, from a kick-off, has a thought in mind despite being a mile from the line. He stumbles after taking out a half plate, gets back to his feet and then explodes with fuzzy legs, whizzing down the flank and scoring in the corner. sensational A disconcerting pace.
Two more for Cleary, who nails his hard kick wide.
TRY! Australia 28-0 Scotland (Cleary, 29)
It’s as if Scotland’s defense is marshalled by dummies. Cleary darts back and forth and dribbles unhindered through the middle, feigning a pass, taking a touch with his right foot, coming down the left and diving under the posts. too easy That is why he has had so much anticipation around his name.
27 min: Australia are deflected offside in the red area from a corner, so Scotland win the ball back. Ferguson, who has impressed since coming on, is a few meters away in midfield. But hardly any progress, so kick Scotland.
Tedesco clears and takes it out on the field. Trbojevic is doing well. Also Collins. Every Australian transport crosses the profit line.
25 mins: Scotland break into Australia’s half for the first time and Bain is absolutely overwhelmed by Cleary for his troubles. Phew, it was a big hit. The ball is turned and the ‘Roos’ short stay in space is over.
TRY! Australia 22-0 Scotland (Graham, 22)
It’s men against boys. Or more accurately, fast men against slower men. Tedesco’s quick pass down the left got things going. As Australia progress down this avenue, they create space on the right. The ball is recycled faster than an aluminum can and is sent down the line with rapid pace and surgical precision. Cleary floats a pass to Graham, who steps onto his right foot and welcomes the challenge of two tacklers. He takes them both and charges over the line. Cleary extras add sparkle.
20 mins: A Scottish scrum deep in their own half to start again. Russell is tackled by about 12 Australians and sent off. Scotland can’t get ahead. Australians are relentless. The new man Ferguson can’t change things either. So Scotland kick and Graham charges from deep.
It’s Cleary, not Cleary! My apologies to the few people who have reached out. Clumsy fingers and a frantic start means I’ve made a few mistakes in naming young ‘Roo.
I appreciate the help though.
TRY! Australia 16-0 Scotland (Crighton, 15)
It’s messy, but it’s another score for the ‘Roos. Grant transfers it to Cleary, who then raises it to Scottish territory. It is denied by a Scot hand and then the Australian punches it past the try line. He bounces, flips and then gets splashed by Crichton. Clearly grooves the conversion. We’re barely 15 minutes in and it’s a ruckus.
Updated at 19.56 BST
15 minutes: is it a try?! He has gone upstairs. It is a messy score if it is from a high kick that dribbles over the scotch line and is dotted down. TMO to make the call…
Updated at 19.49 BST
14 mins: What a catch under pressure from Scotland’s Walker. A high kick spun in the air and he had to hold on. He gets the hit, but only after dragging the ball. Well played.
TRY! Australia – Scotland 10-0 (Wighton, 11)
too easy Cleary plays chess against a Scottish defense playing checkers. He drives his team at a frantic pace and the Scots can’t keep up. A short pass to Wighton allows him to straighten up and then cut back against the grain as he takes out two tacklers. Clearly, then add the extra. A defeat is quickly brewing.
Updated at 19.53 BST
10 mins: Scotland kick off and moments later are back in their own territory, with their backs against their try line. The Scots run it from deep but don’t get very far with the Aussies defending like fanatics.
Scotland eventually kick and Graham, who could have played for Scotland, puts it back upfield.
TRY! Australia – Scotland 4-0 (Addo-Carr, 6)
inevitable The fastest man in the world will get plaudits for a classy finish into the left corner, but this was a team test of the highest order. Strong goals, Yeo and Tedesco involved, sees open space on the left. Quick hands and a floating pass from Cleary to Addo-Carr sees him go down for the opening score. Really clinical from the ‘Roos.
He clearly takes aim from the edge of the pitch, but misses his first shot at goal in his country’s colours.
Updated at 19.53 BST
6 mins: Linnett has strong support for Scotland, but the Aussie defense is so good at limiting space. Linnett receives a wide pass and opts to run from his final attack rather than throw, so it’s the change ball.
Grant is pulling the strings. Tedesco is wrapped up in the tackle. Yeo brings it closer. They are a short distance away.
4 mins: Carrigan and Grant get involved. Clearly skirt down the middle within touching distance. But Wighton can’t get a loose pass, so Scotland go off just as Australia had worked the space down the right. Scrum for the men in yellow.
Updated at 19.53 BST
2 minutes: I mean, there are soft landings in international sport and there’s this attempt by Clearly two minutes into his debut.
Australia in distance ball. One kick and Clearly dives into it.
But no! no attempt A Scot puts him under a bit of pressure early on and it’s another low for the men in yellow.
Australia is knocking on the door.
1 min: Oh what a start. Tedesco kicks off and is deep. The Scots gather but leave as they do so. So they have to drop it. Australia is back on the ball.
Okay. Here. We. Wow!
Hymns are on. I’m not Scottish and frankly I don’t care too much if they win or lose tonight. But goodness You’d have to have a heart made of stone not to feel all the feels once those pipes start at the top of Flower of Scotland. Simply wonderful. Makes you want to charge headlong into a line of English longbows. Okay, maybe not. But still he stirs.
The teams are making their way out. Not exactly a full house in Coventry. It’s actually quite empty.
Attendees will observe a minute’s silence for Liam Hampson.
what a moment Nathan Cleary, perhaps the best player in the world, makes his debut.
His coach Mal Malinga said Clearly is ready to play “the game of his life”. He has lit up the NRL at halfback, guiding the Penrith Panthers to the title. It starts tonight. Is this the start of a dynastic run in the green and gold?
Updated at 19.53 BST
If you’re watching the Beeb, you’ve just seen a lovely segment from Josh Addo-Carr, possibly the fastest broadcaster in the competition. He was electric against the Fijians on the left wing. His grandfather was a professional boxer and he spoke about the challenges of Indigenous athletes fighting for recognition and the responsibility he feels representing his community.
It’s easy to exaggerate this sort of thing, but it really warms the heart when professional players recognize their status as role models.
A late change for Scotland due to illness
Our best guess is that it’s Hull’s Sam Luckley who misses out. Enter Guy Graham with Scotland playing in the changed yellow strip with just a hint of blue tartan. it’s pretty cool, to be fair.
Scotland: Alex Walker, Lachlan Walmsley, Ben Hellewell, Kiaran Buchanan, Matty Russell, Bailey Hayward, Calum Gahan, Logan Bayliss-Brow, Liam Hood, Jack Teanby, Euan Aitken, Kane Linnett, James Bell
Subs: Kyle Schneider, Luke Bain, Guy Graham, Dale Ferguson.
This is the first meeting between Australia and Scotland in the World Cup. I thought you should know.
Aussies ring the changes
There are six debutants for the Kangaroos this evening. Matt Burton, Campbell Graham, Natham Cleary, Liam Martin and Isaah Yeo don the green and gold for the first time and start for Australia. Lindsay Collins will come off the bench.
Australia: James Tedesco (capt), Josh Addo-Carr, Matt Burton, Jack Wighton, Campbell Graham, Cameron Munster, Nathan Clearly, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Harry Grant, Patrick Carrigan, Angus Crichton, Liam Martin, Isaah Yeo.
Subs: Ben Hunt, Lindsay Collins, Valentine Holmes, Jack Trbojevic
Updated at 19.54 BST
Are you upset about the lack of gardening tonight? You are not alone. Monty is less than pleased that the foot is on.
Monty, if you’re reading this, welcome. i…