Scotland Renew Rivalry With Wallabies

Scotland will renew their rivalry with Australia next summer in a one-off Test match, which will be the Wallabies first home game since their third-placed finish in Rugby World Cup. It was announced today that Andy Robinson’s men will take on the Wallabies at the Ausgrid Stadium, Newcastle, New South Wales on Tuesday 5 June, 2012 – the stadium’s debut on the rugby Test match circuit. The last time the two countries met, Scotland secured a dramatic 9-8 triumph at Murrayfield in November 2009, their first victory against Australia in 27 years.    Scotland head coach Andy Robinson welcomed today’s announcement. “We’re really pleased to have this fixture as part of our tour in June which will also encompass Test matches against Fiji and Samoa. “The last time we played against Australia was a very good game and a special win for Scotland. We’re very much looking forward to going to Newcastle and playing our part in the inaugural Test match at the stadium there.” Speaking in Newcastle, NSW today, Australia back Adam Ashley-Cooper said: “When I was growing up on the Central Coast I would have never imagined getting the opportunity to come back and play a Test for Australia in the nearby Hunter region. “It will be good to part of the first Wallabies team to play a Test in Newcastle. “There is a strong level of support for the game in the Hunter – and a great history of Wallabies to have come from the region – so I’m sure that a big crowd will come out to get behind us against Scotland.” Scotland, who will take a 34-strong playing party, are still finalising their itinerary for the remainder of the tour and are looking to include a fixture against a Super XV side in Australia on Saturday 9 June. Following the Australia leg of the summer tour Scotland will head to the South Pacific and will play Test matches against Fiji and Samoa. Those dates and venues are still being finalised, as is the kick-off for the Test against Australia. Scotland’s 2012 confirmed schedule, including the RBS 6 Nations Championship, is now as follows: Saturday 4 February, Scotland v England, Murrayfield, kick-off 5pmSunday 12 February, Wales v Scotland, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, kick-off 3pmSunday 26 February, Scotland v France, Murrayfield, kick-off 3pmSaturday 10 March, Ireland v Scotland, Aviva Stadium, Dublin, kick-off 5pmSaturday 17 March, Italy v Scotland, Stadio Olimpico, Rome, kick-off 12.30pm UK timeTuesday 5 June, Australia v Scotland, Ausgrid Stadium, Newcastle, NSW, kick-off TBC