By Peter Ryan – @PeterRyanSports
As Australia head to Murrayfield in pursuit of a clean sweep in the autumn series, both teams are riding high on recent victories.
Scotland’s comfortable win over Portugal and Australia’s dismantling of Wales in Cardiff set the stage for an exciting clash between two rugby powerhouses.
With Gregor Townsend and Joe Schmidt favouring an entertaining brand of rugby, the match promises to be a thrilling spectacle for fans and a source of exciting betting opportunities.
Scotland
Scotland are one of the more settled teams; people are waiting for Townsend’s side to take the next step, and a win over Australia would go a long way in achieving this.
As stated before, they are coming off a win against Portugal, where they put on a solid display to dispatch a scrappy Portuguese side.
Over their last five games, Scotland has received mixed results, beaten the likes of Fiji and Chile but falling short to South Africa.
Scoring hasn’t been an issue for the Scots, as they average 25 points per game.
Looking at key players for the contest, Blair Kinghorn, who will be returning to his familiar spot as full-back for Scotland, is an absolute Rolls-Royce of a player with attacking flair for days.
The partnership between Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones is one of the best in world rugby today and is something they will want to exploit in the Australian defence.
Turning to the forward pack, Matt Fagerson will move from his usual spot at blindside flanker to number eight, slotting in for the injured Jack Dempsey.
Even though some players are unavailable for selection, with the likes of Finn Russell, Darcy Graham, and Duhan van der Merwe in their ranks, Scotland will be firing on all cylinders on Sunday afternoon. Scotland will look for a big win over Australia to gain momentum heading into the 2025 Six Nations.
Australia
After the 2023 World Cup, Australia seemed miles away from the teams of the past.
It looked like it would be a long road back for Joe Schmidt’s team, but after two wins over Wales in the summer and a promising Rugby Championship campaign, they headed into the autumn full of confidence.
They upset England in front of a disappointed Twickenham crowd in a game for the ages.
Then, they crossed the Severn River to the Welsh capital, where they backed up a good performance by dismantling a struggling Welsh side.
They are potent in the counterattack and know how to score points, as evidenced by their average of 28 points per game.
Australia has some sensational talent within their ranks. In the front row, Angus Bell is one of the premier loosehead props in the game today.
Will Skelton has a tremendous rugby pedigree and imposes himself on any opposition.
Looking at the backline, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has burst onto the rugby union scene with his flashy offloads and entertaining attack.
Scotland will likely aim to exploit him defensively, as he is new to the game. As their impressive tour continues, Joe Schmidt will aim for another big win in Europe.
The Bets
There are some fascinating opportunities to consider from a betting perspective.
The best bet is for Scotland to win, given the quality Townsend’s squad possesses, and they will aim to achieve what Wales and England failed to do.
You can find good value in betting on Darcy Graham to score a try; the Glasgow Warrior has shown his class in every game he has played and can quickly get over the line.
For those who favour a long shot, backing Scotland to have a winning margin of between six and ten points could pay off.
Scotland has the potential to run away with the game thanks to their attacking prowess and the quality they can bring off the bench.
Best Bet: Scotland to win – 4/7
Value Bet: Darcy Graham to score – 23/20
Long Shot Bet: Scotland to win by six to ten points – 7/2
