Scotland v Australia:Scotland rugby fans will scarcely need reminding of their team's dismal record against Australia over the last 24 years that has produced an uninterrupted sequence of 15 wins by the Wallabies.
Earlier this week Scotland coach Frank Hadden admitted: "Australia are the side who have embarrassed us most in recent times. Since 1982 they have only twice failed to score more than 30 points against us."
Australia, however, have struggled to produce anything like their best rugby on the current tour, having drawn with Wales, struggled past Italy and been swept aside by Ireland last week.
"We see this as a genuine opportunity of beating Australia," said Hadden, who is not extrapolating too much from the Wallabies' Dublin defeat. "Ireland are the best side in the Northern Hemisphere right now. We don't have the capacity to perform the way they did last weekend," he said of the 21-6 win. "It is an immense task for us."
Hadden's hopes of victory will depend much on how his Australian-born outhalf Dan Parks performs. Parks, whose elevation to international status is a surprise to most Australians, has been selected because of his kicking skills and with the weather forecasted to be a repeat of the windy conditions in Dublin last Sunday, his boot will be crucial. The other Australian exile in the Scotland team is lock Nathan Hines.
Australia have picked arguably their strongest side for this, the final match of their tour with a stiffer looking front five and a backrow in which the reinstated David Lyons joins forces with the energetic opensider, George Smith.
Scotland are inexperienced here with number eight David Callam making his first start and Kelly Brown playing only his third game at openside.
Australia look dangerous in the backs having introduced Scott Staniforth at inside centre and moved Stirling Mortlock and Loti Tuqiri to their optimum positions at outside centre and wing respectively. In defence they have had a few days to sort out their tendency to bunch in the middle, and over-commit at the ruck.
SCOTLAND: C Paterson (capt); S Lamont, M Di Rollo, A Henderson, S Webster; D Parks, M Blair; G Kerr, D Hall, E Murray, N Hines, S Murray, S Taylor, K Brown, D Callam.Replacements: R Ford, A Jacobsen, A Kellock, A Strokosch, R Lawson, P Godman, H Southwell.
AUSTRALIA: C Latham; M Gerrard, S Mortlock (capt), S Staniforth, L Tuqiri; S Larkham, M Giteau; B Robinson, S Moore, G Sheperdson, N Sharpe, A Campbell, R Elsom, G Smith, D Lyons.Replacements: T Polota Nau, A Baxter, M Chisholm, P Waugh, Wf Palu or S Hoiles, J Valentine, M Rogers.
Referee: Donal Courtney (Ireland)
