Michael Cheika demands better focus from Wallabies after nervy win over Scotland
Bernard Foley converts Tevita Kuridrani’s late try as Australia win 23-22 at Murrayfield on Saturday
Australia coach Michael Cheika was scathing of his team’s concentration as the Wallabies salvaged their grand slam tour ambitions with a late converted try to beat Scotland 23-22 at Murrayfield.
The tourists showed little of the attacking flair that got their end-of-year European tour off to a flying start with a 32-8 win against Wales in Cardiff the previous Saturday and needed a 75th minute try from Tevita Kuridrani which was converted by flyhalf Bernard Foley to overcome a Scotland side who outscored them 3-2 on the try front.
For the Scots it was a painful echo of the 35-34 World Cup quarter-final at Twickenham 13 months ago when Foley nailed a controversial 79th minute penalty, but for Australia it kept alive their hopes of emulating the grand slam they achieved on tour against England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland in 1984.
“I would have liked us to have played a lot better and we could have played a lot better,” said Cheika, whose team play France in Paris next Saturday before facing Ireland and England.
Watch: Tevita Kuridrani scores the crucial late try
“I don’t think we had 100 per cent match focus today. I could see it in the line speed in defence. I equate that to not having the focus necessary at the right level.