Scotland confident they can beat the Wallabies after controversial one-point losses in last two Tests

SCOTLAND has ample reason to prove a point or two in Australia. But the Scots say they’re more focused on improving a point or two - and finally finishing off the Wallabies.

Dejected Scots after the World Cup loss.

WITH the 2015 World Cup controversy and a recent snub by Lions coaches, Scotland have ample reason to prove a point or two in Australia.

But the Scots say they’re more focused on improving a point or two — and finally finishing off the Wallabies.

Scotland take on Australia at Allianz Stadium and the world’s fifth-ranked team say they’re in Sydney armed with genuine “belief” they can beat the Wallabies.

The Scots are last-start winners in Australia — Newcastle in 2012 — but their confidence is based on a strong Six Nations campaign in 2017 and the Wallabies’ only snatching one-point wins in their last two encounters.

Referee Craig Joubert’s controversial decision at the 2015 World Cup.

“We have the confidence, we know we can win. It is just doing the right things on the day and concentrating. Lapses in concentration let us down a lot of the time,” said Scotland prop Allan Dell.

The Wallabies’ quarter-final win at Twickenham remains a source of irritation for many Scots, after Craig Joubert gave Bernard Foley a penalty goal shot in the dying minutes to win the match. Joubert’s decision was later declared incorrect by World Rugby, but Foley stirred the pot this week by saying Australia still deserved to win the match.

“Everyone thinks something different hey? The Aussies will think Craig Joubert was good in that game, and the Scots — obviously you saw how they reacted to that — we didn’t really think he did,” Dell said.

“They feel they won it, and rightly so. But we believe we deserved to win it as well. And that’s how sport goes, everyone has their opinions. His opinion is not going to make us any hungrier for the game.

“That’s a bit too far back to be holding onto emotions from that. The biggest thing you can do is learn from it.”

The Wallabies rubbed salt in the wound last year on the Spring Tour when they won at Murrayfield with another late Foley goal, again with a decision that upset Scotland.

“The squad can compete and can do a good job against them, we just have to close off now,” Dell said.

“That’s just about belief. Every man is good enough for the job, it is just about believing and getting over the line now.”

Scotland’s Six Nations campaign this year provided much of that belief. They beat Ireland and Wales, and pushed France close in Paris. A blowout loss to England tarnished things but there was still major shock when Lions coach Warren Gatland only picked two Scots in the Lions squad. A third was later added.

Scottish players celebrate their famous victory in Newcastle.

Will the Scots have extra fire in the belly in Sydney to show Gatland they should be on the other side of the Tasman?

Maybe, said Dell.

“Initially it was quite a surprise to only see two of the boys in there, but at the end of day coaches will select players they want to coach … or who fits into the coaches structure,” he said.

“The guys will be coming over here to make a point and play well, but whether or not it is trying make a statement to Gats I am not sure. The guys will be coming to perform for Gregor and the new coaching staff and for Scotland. But if you are going to try to prove (Gatland) as a motive, you can go it that way if you want.”

Scotland have developed a far more potent attacking threat but they’ll no doubt lean on set-piece strength to try and overpower the Aussies. Veteran hooker Ross Ford will equal Chris Paterson’s record for most Scottish caps, with 109.

Dell said their defence will have to be rock-solid to contain the Wallabies’ backline dangers.

“Obviously we will try and limit their opportunities, you don’t want to give them broken play and all of that,” he said.

You know how dangerous they are, they can score from anywhere, they can create any gap, they’re creative enough to do things like that.”