So near and yet so far. I've always thought you make your own luck on the international rugby stage. But it is hard not to feel sympathy for the Scotland team, losing out for a second successive Test match to the Australians by a single point.

Scotland can take plenty from this game, one being the attitude of the Australians. They still took the game to the Scots, even with time running out and down to 14 men, whereas I still think we were more intent on trying to run the clock down. Having the confidence to play your game, when the pressure is really on, stands you apart from being good, and being amongst the best.

It is something Scotland should take on the chin and learn from. However, despite the result, and it was a sore one, there was plenty we learned about this group of Scotland players and so many positives we can take from what was – despite the outcome – a first-class contest.

There is an easy place to start. And that is with the Man of the Match, Huw Jones.

He sounds as if he should be playing for Wales, he played at school in England, at Millfield College, where he played in the same team as current England stars Jonathan Joseph and Mako Vunapola. And he plays for Stormers in Cape Town and in the Currie Cup with Western Province. But being Edinburgh-born, he is definitely ours, and he does remind me a lot of someone else from the capital, Grand Slam winner David Johnston.

His timing and pace on to the ball for his first try, and his outside break for the second, was reminiscent, for me, of Johnston, or the likes of Keith Robertson; by the time he takes the pass, he is already on his way around the tackler, who can’t get near him because they’ve planted their feet. He is an elusive runner, and gives the back a real cutting edge along with Stuart Hogg. Some will pick fault with him defensively, that he isn’t big. But what do you want; a lump to stop folk, or someone with pace to burn that might make or score tries for you? It must be the latter.

Jones was outstanding, but not alone in that category.

John Barclay had easily his best game in a Scotland jersey. He was everywhere, his performance best summed up with a great tackle on the Australian captain Stephen Moore, stopping him in his tracks, smothering the offload, then ripping the ball away to take possession and put the Scots back on the front foot.

His first-half performance was immense. But, having played on the edge – like all good flankers should – he suddenly found himself getting pinged and warned by the referee John Lacey in the second half, almost as if the Irishman had changed his own interpretation of the rules at half-time. The 8-2 penalty count against the Scots in the second half hurt us, but to be honest, I really couldn’t see what we were doing differently after the turnaround.

Barclay was matched and ably assisted by Hamish Watson. At the start of the year, the Edinburgh flanker was doing his duties on matchday at Murrayfield, helping behind the scenes as a speaker amongst the corporate hospitality guests.

On Saturday, he treated the Aussies to some homely hospitality, being a real pain in the backside, a real pest, particularly at the breakdown, either helping Scotland win possession or stopping and spoiling Australian ball. Not glamorous, not always noticed, but hugely effective. He is one of the new generation – some would say old generation – of flanker; quick, mobile, not just picked on bulk and height. It has changed the dynamic of the game.

The Australians are probably the best example of that currently with David Pocock and Michael Hooper, arguably the best pairing in the world. But the reason we didn’t see or hear too much of them at Murrayfield was because of the performance of Barclay and Watson. For me, that says it all.

I’d like to see more of props Zander Fagerson and Allan Dell. They found the going tough at times, but, they were up against a hugely experienced Aussie front row. But that’s what you are up against, more often than not, and if they are pitched in against the Argentinians next week, that will be an even bigger examination of what they are like in the set piece.

Another pleasing aspect of Saturday was how Scotland didn’t panic when losing players to injury. We could always field a good fifteen, but we do have strength across the replacements. That owes so much to the way Vern Cotter has assembled this squad over a number of years.

If Saturday is a shape of how his final season with the SRU pans out, it could be an exciting and memorable one. Who knows, maybe he’s departing too early. Time will tell. And with the Autumn tests coming around thick and fast, you don’t need to wait long to find out

Next up, Argentina, who did well against a much better Welsh side to the one beaten by Australia last week. They could have even won it in Cardiff.

At Murrayfield next Saturday, the Pumas will provide a far different challenge to Australia. Their game is still forward dominated, and they have a muckle big pack who are not shifted easily in the set piece. Where they can be beaten, is in terms of pace – so Scotland should keep the ball moving.

If there was one criticism of Scotland at the weekend, it was that the ball presentation appeared slow. You want to keep it moving – especially when you have a back division so willing to run it now.