Scotland beat Australia 15-12 at a sodden Murrayfield, a result that was far more prosaic than the spectacle of the previous weekend, when Paris had its pyrotechnics and Wales had a wondrous win in Cardiff. Both sides badly needed a win, and Gregor Townsend's team handled the quintessentially Scottish conditions better than their opponents, who had hoped for anything but the heavy rain they encountered.

Scotland had been patchy the previous week, excelling in the first half against New Zealand before collapsing after the break, and could not afford a repeat. The captain Sione Tuipulotu had injured a knee, prompting a late reshuffle: Bristol's Tom Jordan started at No 12, with openside flanker Rory Darge taking the armband. Matt Fagerson scored after Ben White's pass exploited a narrow Australian defence early on, and Harry Potter replied almost immediately with a sliding finish set up by Carter Gordon and Fraser McReight.S2

Darge then set up Darcy Graham, although Kyle Steyn had a foot in touch when he tapped the kick through, and Scott Cummings left the field with a possibly serious injury. Jack Dempsey burrowed over from close range after an Australian penalty for not rolling away, and Finn Russell's conversion put Scotland 12-5 ahead. Billy Pollard's try was disallowed for obstruction after a television review, and Scotland held their seven-point lead at the interval.S2

Australia, who have now lost four in a row under Les Kiss, were left to rally late in the match, but Graham's last-gasp tackle foiled a final attack. The win moves Scotland fourth in the northern hemisphere table on points difference, and leaves Australia heading to Wales even more desperate for a result.S1S2