IT is a rather neat coincidence that Scotland play Australia in the final round of the World Rugby Under-20 Championship in Tbilisi only a day after the the senior side’s impressive and inspirational win over the Wallabies in Sydney.
Of course, while the date of the senior international was set some time ago, the meeting at this level was determined just five days ago after the teams booked their places in the fifth place play-off following respective wins over Wales and Italy.
Other than the opening game against New Zealand, today’s match will be the stiffest challenge the young Scots have faced.
Head coach John Dalziel said: “The match is going to be a huge test of our character as Australia are an excellent side, but we feel we’re up to the challenge both mentally and physically.
“This group have shown what a quality side they are and the players have a lot more to give. We’re delighted to have made history, but we’re not stopping there.”
The Scots will face an Australia team that has talent in the backline in the form of Sevens caps Liam McNamara at full-back and Henry Hutchison on the wing, plus Queensland Reds players Izaia Perese, who scored three tries against Italy, at outside centre and Hamish Stewart at stand-off.
Australia came through the pool stage with wins over Wales and Samoa, both by seven-point margins, and then suffered an agonising 20-19 defeat to England.
For the match today, with Scotland guaranteed a highest-ever sixth place, Dalziel has named an unchanged starting side and a bench that shows just one change with Bruce Flockhart coming in for the Newcastle Falcons back row Archie Erskine.
While the fifth-place play-off is the main interest for Scotland fans, the international focus today will be on the much-anticipated final between defending champions England and five-time title winners New Zealand, who, after a number of dazzling displays, are, by some distance, favourites to win the tournament.
The bronze medal match is between France and South Africa. Elsewhere, Wales take on Italy, Ireland face the hosts, Georgia, and Argentina play Samoa in the relegation game.
Scotland under-20 : B Kinghorn (Edinburgh); R Nairn (Harlequins), R McCann (Melrose), S McDowall (Ayr), D Graham (Hawick); C Eastgate (Wasps), A Simmers (Heriot’s); G Thornton (Bishop Burton College), F Renwick (Hawick), A Nicol (Stirling County), A Craig (Gloucester), C Hunter-Hill (Stirling County), L Crosbie (Currie), M Fagerson (Glasgow Hawks), T Dodd (Worcester) Subs : R Smith (Ayr), F Bradbury (Stirling County), D Winning (Boroughmuir), H Bain (Currie), B Flockhart (Glasgow Warriors), C Shiel (Currie), J Henderson (Glasgow Hawks), L Berg (Gala)
Australia under-20 : L McNamara; H Hutchison, I Perese, S Tuipoluto, S Tupou; J Stewart, H Goddard; C Walker, J Uelese, S Vui, R McCauley, H Hockings, A Scott-Young, L Wright, R Hewat Subs E Maafu, H Johnson-Holmes, G Luka, L Swinton, R Valetini, H Nucifora, N Jooste, D Riley
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