What were we saying about Australia giving the Scots absolutely nothing?

Will Genia's pass from the base of the ruck is loose and when the hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau tries to shovel the ball on he pops it up perfectly for Duncan Taylor to pick off the interception and coast over.

Finn Russell adds the extras and the Scots are in good shape

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Colin Gregor
Former Scotland sevens captain on BBC Radio Scotland

"There's a marked increase in intensity that Scotland are up against this week. The Australian defence is giving them absolutely nothing."

Greig Tonks - a surprise selection for many at full-back - has looked assured in these early stages. As well as that early long-range penalty he has taken a couple of good catches under the high ball.

Finn Russell looks in the mood, zipping the ball about to get the backline moving. However, despite having 70% possession so far the Scots are struggling to make any real inroads into this Australian defence.

Decent start from Scotland who are forcing errors from the Wallabies.

They have also just forced a scrum penalty which will be a big boost to the front row. The ball is kicked to the corner and despite the throw going astray the Scots regain the ball.

Lee Jones comes into the line to good effect on the 22m line. Finn Russell looks to dance between two tacklers and offload but the ball slips from his grasp and it will be an Australian scrum.

From the restart Ned Hanigan leaps for the ball and is deemed to have been taken out by Jonny Gray. The referee awards a penalty in a very kickable position but Bernard Foley makes a hash of his shot at goal and the Scots remain in front.

Scotland force a penalty at a breakdown just inside the Australian half. Greig Tonks steps up and bangs over a magnificent penalty to give the Scots and early lead.

Rory Hughes is fed by John Barclay and races up the left touchline but is poleaxed into touch by Adam Coleman who then seems to rough up Hughes a little bit after the hit.

Ryan Wilson gets involved and it all kicks off.

Tasty.

Nine minutes behind schedule, Bernard Foley gets us under way at Allianz Stadium.

The teams have been out for a while now. We had a minute's silence followed by a pre-match speech from what appeared to be one of the blazers from the Australian Rugby Union.

A kilted fellow is now belting out 'Flower of Scotland'. Just the Australian anthem to go and then hopefully we can finally get this show on the road.

John Barclay leads the Scotland players on to the field at Allianz Stadium.

Kick-off is just moments away.

Tom English
BBC Scotland chief sports writer at Allianz Stadium, Sydney

Expecting a crowd of about 30,000 here at the Allianz Stadium. They'll need to get a move on. The teams are about to enter the arena. A huge day for Scotland's back three - Greig Tonks (hasn't played at Test in two years), Lee Jones (no Test in more than five years) and Rory Hughes (only his second start).

The recent history of this fixture is extraordinary. Five games in a row with a single score in it at the end and late, late drama in three of those games. I spoke to Bernard Foley - they call him The Iceman here on account of his nerveless winning kicks against the Scots - and he reckons we're all-set for another epic today.

We don't have long to wait...

One of the key battles today will be - as always - between the two numbers 10s.

Australia's Bernard Foley and Scotland's Finn Russell are two of the most exciting attacking fly-halves in international rugby. The outcome of this personal duel could go a long way to determining which team comes out on top.

"Finn Russell is a very dangerous player," said Foley earlier this week. "He has all the tricks of the trade.

"He's a major threat for us this weekend and someone will have to contain him.

"I thought he was unlucky to miss out on that Lions squad. He's a form 10 in the northern hemisphere.

"His ability to run, pass and kick is world class."

Read more here.

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As ever, I'm rooming with Ryan Wilson. He'd be lost without me. The captain tends to get his own room if there's an odd number of players and since Lewis Carmichael joined us there's an odd number, but I'm staying where I am. Besides, there's the entertainment he offers sometimes when he sleep-talks and walks.

He woke me up once at three in the morning emptying his bag upside down while looking for a snorkel. He found "it" and woke sucking on his inhaler like a baby. I always say I should record him.

We all face a huge job on Saturday against the Wallabies. The last five games between us have ended with a single score in it, so it should be close. They're a good side and so are we. The conditions will be easier than Singapore but the challenge will be harder.

Read John Barclay's BBC Sport Scotland column here.

The last time Scotland faced the Wallabies in Australia they secured a famous victory.

On a rain-soaked night in Newcastle in 2012, Greig Laidlaw kicked Andy Robinson's Scotland side to a 9-6 win.

Possibly even more memorable than the game was the celebration that went wrong when Ally Strokosch Joe Ansbro were left bloodied and dazed after clashing heads in the victory huddle.

Hopefully no such catastrophe will befall any of the Scotland players today, but can they repeat the trick of five years ago and register another win on Australian soil?

We want to hear from you this morning so get in touch. You can tweet @BBCSportScot, external or @BBCAndyBurke, external. You can also leave a comment at the BBC Sport Scotland Facebook, external page.

Get involved.

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Michael Cheika makes just a single change from the Australia team that beat Fiji 34-14 last weekend, with Eto Nabuli making his Test debut on the wing in place of Henry Speight.

Israel Folau will be a threat to Scotland from full-back, while Tevita Kuridrani, the match-winner the last time the sides met at Murrayfield, partners Karmichael Hunt in the centre.

Will Genia and Bernard Foley make up a formidable half-back partnership.

Michael Hooper captains the side from the back-row in the absence of regular skipper Stephen Moore.

Head coach Gregor Townsend has shuffled his pack to allow him to look at some new faces today, with eight changes to the team from last weekend's win over Italy.

The back three of Greig Tonks, Lee Jones and Rory Hughes have only 13 caps between them and can expect a tough examination today.

Duncan Taylor switches from full-back to join Alex Dunbar in the centre, with Ali Price and Finn Russell providing some continuity at half-back.

Hamish Watson and Jonny Gray return to the side along with an entirely new front-row in a strong looking pack.

Subs: Ross Ford, Allan Dell, WP Nel, Tim Swinson, Josh Strauss, Henry Pyrgos, Ruaridh Jackson, Matt Scott.

Tom English
BBC Scotland chief sports writer at Allianz Stadium, Sydney

A dramatic night on the Scotland and Lions front. As we know now, Finn Russell and Allan Dell have been called up by Warren Gatland to join the squad in New Zealand. They'll both play against the Wallabies and will do a press conference at the Scotland team hotel later in the day before heading to NZ tomorrow.

Four Welsh players have also been called up. The lock Cory Hill, the hooker Kristian Dacey, the tighthead Tomas Francis and the scrum-half Gareth Davies.

Russell and Davies are understandable elevations, but the others are puzzling to the point of farce. They have selected because of the players' proximity to New Zealand rather than Test match ability. These guys are meant as cover but the Lions concept of the best of the best is hugely undermined by all of this.

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