Match Centre: Scotland 15-16 Australia

Scotland 15-16 Australia, Murrayfield Stadium

Blair Kinghorn missed a last-gasp penalty as Scotland were edged out by Australia with a one-point margin in the opening game of their autumn internationals at Murrayfield Stadium.

Scotland were without their overseas bound players as the fixture falls outside the traditional international window but Gregor Townsend had already decided to drop Finn Russell and hand over the captaincy to Jamie Ritchie from Stuart Hogg.

Scotland were the first to open their account as Ollie Smith went past the Australian defence to score after collecting a delayed pass from Kinghorn but the conversion went wide.

The response from Australia came in the 16th minute as Bernard Foley kicked a three-pointer. Scotland looked threatening as Kinghorn sent a long pass towards Sione Tuipulotu but the latter missed out on the opportunity. The 24th minute saw Sam Skinner replaced.

As the half-time was approaching, Dave Cherry was penalised for not rolling away, Foley slotted a three-pointer to take Australia to a 5-6 lead at the end of the opening half.

Scotland seized the lead back once again in the second half as Kinghorn showed brisk pace as he sprinted past the line and he also slotted the extras to make it 12-6 and it got better as he also slotted a three-pointer in the 54th minute to extend the lead to nine points.

The momentum shifted when Scotland's Glen Young was sin binned for an illegal clearout and shortly Australia made use of the numerical advantage with skipper James Slipper diving over following a period of sustained pressure. Foley kicked the conversion and followed with a penalty goal in the 71st minute to make it 15-16.

Just as Scotland had an opportunity to edge ahead, Kinghorn's penalty goal drifted wide allowing Dave Rennie's men to end a three-game losing streak.

Team line up:

Scotland: Ollie Smith; Darcy Graham, Mark Bennett, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe; Blair Kinghorn, Ali Price; Pierre Schoeman, Dave Cherry, Zander Fagerson, Sam Skinner, Grant Gilchrist, Jamie Ritchie (capt), Hamish Watson, Matt Fagerson.

Reserves: George Turner, Jamie Bhatti, WP Nel, Glen Young, Jack Dempsey, George Horne, Ross Thompson, Damien Hoyland.

Australia: Banks; Kellaway, Ikitau, Paisami, Wright; Foley, McDermott; Slipper, Porecki, Alaalatoa, Frost, Neville, Holloway, Hooper, Valetini

Reserves: Fainga'a, Gibbon, Tupou, Hanigan, Gleeson, White, Lolesio, Campbell