Rugby: Scathing Aussie media rip into Wallabies following Scotland loss

Wallabies players look dejected following their 24-19 loss to Scotland in Sydney yesterday. Photo / Getty Images.

The Wallabies shock loss to Scotland last night has been slammed by critics in the Australian media.

The Wallabies blew numerous late chances as Scotland won 24-19, putting another black mark on Australian rugby in 2017.

As a result of the victory, which has been described as "an exhibition in brain dead", the Scots have climbed to fourth in the World Rugby Rankings, the highest point they have ever reached on the rankings in their history.

The Daily Telegraph's Iain Payten was one of many media personnel to grill the Wallabies, labelling Australian first-five Bernard Foley as the "promotional ice statue", who may want to consider staying hid for an extra week or so following the defeat.

"It displayed a disturbing lack of familiarity with the Wallabies," he said in reference to Foley's "ice statue".

"Calm, composed and with ice in their veins couldn't have been any further from reality at Allianz Stadium.

"From anyone in gold. The Wallabies' defeat to Scotland was an exhibition in brain dead."

Christy Doran of Fox Sports provided more optimism than Payten, stating that Australian rugby isn't quite dead and buried just yet, but admitted a miracle would be required for the Wallabies to re-claim the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since 2002.

"After an embarrassing 3-0 series defeat last year against Eddie Jones' England, Fiji, Scotland and Italy was supposed to be a walk in the park," Doran said.

"The players might not have thought so, but the Australian public did and they deserved more than what they saw.

"The Bledisloe Cup has never looked so far away."

The Sydney Morning Herald generated the headline "Jock Horror", with Tom Decent writing: "From there the world's sixth-ranked rugby side - who now sit fourth overall - managed to repel numerous late attacking Wallabies threats to record a victory that will somewhat make up for their one-point heartbreak at the 2015 Rugby World Cup."

The loss comes after an incredibly underwhelming showing from the Australian Super Rugby franchises this season in what has been a dim year for Australian rugby thus far.

This perhaps best illustrated via the Australian conference-leading Brumbies, who currently sit on 33 points with a negative win-loss record - four points fewer than that of the Blues, who anchor the New Zealand conference on 37 points.

With the Rugby Championship looming on the horizon, much improvement is needed from Michael Cheika's men to avoid embarrassment against the impressive-looking All Blacks and Springboks, as well as a competitive Argentine side.

The Wallabies play their final match of the June test series next Saturday against Italy in Brisbane.