Australia - 34 Scotland - 13: Matt Williams reflected on his first tour in charge of Scotland yesterday and declared it a success, despite back-to-back defeats to Australia.
"We needed a tough tour like this. It was fraught with danger because there was so much unknown but today, at the end of it, I couldn't have wished for more," he said following Saturday's 34-13 defeat to the Wallabies' at Sydney's Telstra Stadium.
"The goals we set as far as identifying players and lifting the national team to another level - those are massive statements - we have achieved."
But critics, frustrated by too many false dawns in Scottish rugby, will continue to point a harsh finger at Williams for glossing over key problem areas.
Against Australia, Williams' men, brave and committed, were found wanting as the age-old Scottish problem resurfaced - they simply could not score tries, a lack Williams conceded.
"We didn't score the points required and that is extremely disappointing," he said. "It is getting a culture of trusting yourself. When Australia got into the 22, they did not leave without getting points - three or five or seven.
"It is an education for the players, an issue of maturity within the team. We missed tackles and dropped passes but that will come with experience and practice.
"It was so uplifting and fulfilling but frustrating and heartbreaking because we didn't deserve that scoreline."
There were encouraging signs for Scotland, however. They enjoyed a healthy percentage of possession, and at times played first-rate attacking rugby.
Scotland played with greater adventure than in the first Test, but their wide attackers were not good enough to take advantage of their many opportunities. If they had quality finishers, Scotland could easily have claimed three or four tries, instead of the one, scored by their best player, scrumhalf Chris Cusiter.
However, too many chances out wide were wasted as their wings too often ran back inside to be swamped. In contrast Australia had few problems, with five tries.
AUSTRALIA: Roff, Sailor, Mortlock, Giteau, Tuqiri, Larkham, Gregan, Young, Cannon, Baxter, Harrison, Sharpe, Samo, Waugh, Lyons. Replacements: Latham for Sailor (68), Paul for Cannon (59), Dunning for Baxter (55), Vickerman for Harrison (58), Smith for Samo (63). Not Used: Turinui, Rathbone. Tries: Sailor, Tuqiri 2, Turinui, Roff. Cons: Roff 3. Pens: Roff.
SCOTLAND: Southwell, Lamont, Hinshelwood, Henderson, Webster, Parks, Cusiter, T Smith, Bulloch, Douglas, Fullarton, Murray, White, MacFadyen, Hogg. Replacements: Morrison for Henderson (77), Ross for Parks (69), Hamilton for Fullarton (48), Petrie for Murray (72). Not Used: Scott, C. Smith, Blair. Try: Cusiter. Con: Parks. Pens: Parks 2.
Referee: M Lawrence (South Africa)
