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Wallabies v Scotland: Coach Gregor Townsend says Test win would give Scottish rugby ‘huge boost’

ENGLAND turned themselves into a world power with a whitewash of the Wallabies and Scotland coach Gregor Townsend says beating Australia in Sydney would give Scottish rugby a similarly ‘huge boost’.

Jonny Gray takes it up to the Australians during the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Picture: Getty Images
Jonny Gray takes it up to the Australians during the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Picture: Getty Images

A YEAR after England used a series victory in Australia as a springboard to assert themselves as a world power, Scotland coach Gregor Townsend says beating the Wallabies in Sydney would be a similarly “huge boost” for Scottish rugby.

Townsend expressed confidence about rolling the Australian team at Allianz Stadium on Saturday afternoon despite making eight changes to his starting team from the side that beat Italy last weekend.

Scotland's coach Gregor Townsend is confident of his team’s chances. Picture: AP
Scotland's coach Gregor Townsend is confident of his team’s chances. Picture: AP

Star lock Jonny Gray — who was contentiously overlooked for Lions duties — returns in a pack that also features a new front-row and a reshuffled back row with Hamish Watson at No.7. In the backline, there is a new centre pairing of Duncan Taylor and Alex Dunbar, and a new fullback Greig Tonks.

Veteran hooker Ross Ford will equal Chris Paterson’s 109-Test cap record from the bench.

Townsend explained the mass changes by saying he wanted to use the trip south to look at new players.

Jonny Gray takes it up to the Australians during the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Picture: Getty Images
Jonny Gray takes it up to the Australians during the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Picture: Getty Images

“It’s a tour and what we don’t want to come back from your and say we took 34 players and only used 25,” Townsend said.

“You want to be able to see which players can perform at Test level and give them that opportunity.”

But with attacking No. 10 Finn Russell still running the show, the Scots aren’t running up a white flag under the guise of development.

Jonny Gray kicks the ball during a Scotland recovery session at Coogee Beach. Picture: Jenny Evans
Jonny Gray kicks the ball during a Scotland recovery session at Coogee Beach. Picture: Jenny Evans

They’re not only keen to emulate England’s feats last year, they believe they have the firepower to beat Australia too.

Australia have beaten Scotland by a single point in their past two encounters.

“It’d be great if we were to win it, it would be a huge boost to the players and Scottish rugby as a whole,” Townsend said.

“We are playing the Wallabies in Australia and they’re full strength. It’s a great challenge for guys, we believe we can win. If we do it will be fantastic.”

The return of Gray will add plenty of industry to an already hardworking forward pack.

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/rugby/rugby-world-cup-2015/news/wallabies-v-scotland-coach-gregor-townsend-says-test-win-would-give-scottish-rugby-huge-boost/news-story/7a6486bc953d733f605ab3555745bd03