Scotland claimed their largest ever victory over a Tier 1 nation by thumping 14-man Australia 53-24 at BT Murrayfield. The visitors had prop Sekope Kepu sent off late in the first half for a dangerous clear-out of Hamish Watson.
Australia had just scored their – and Tevita Kuridrani’s – second try of the match to take a slender 12-10 lead in the game, when the incident happened.
Refeee Pascal Gauzère gave the Waratahs tighthead a straight red card approaching half-time after Kepu charged towards Watson at the ruck.
Watson was uninjured but Gauzère was left with no alternative after consulting Television Match Official Graham Hughes.
Not only was Kepu’s challenge late and off the ball, the prop led with his shoulder with force into the jaw of the Scottish flanker.
The game had been finely balanced up till Kepu’s sending off and indeed, after the break it was the Wallabies who equalised with Kurtley Beale’s try.
But from then on, it was Scotland all the way and Gregor Townsend’s side made the most of the man advantage by scoring a further seven tries en route to a record win over Australia, despite losing talisman Stuart Hogg to injury in the warm-up.
Sale winger Byron McGuigan bagged a brace of scores on his first start while Huw Jones made it five tries in as many appearances in the second half.
Sekope Kepu red card incident
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