Australia marched on to the Rugby World Cup semi-finals with a 33-16 victory over a brave Scottish team at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. After a quiet first half, the Wallabies stretched their legs into a comfortable lead, but the Scots got the last try at the death, a fitting reward for lots of serious effort.
Chris Paterson the Scottish fly-half, nearly did not play. In a kick about before the match he was struck on the head by a flying ball and felled. He was helped off the field looking groggy, but was there to start the match and score 11 points for his side.
The first half was level, partly because the Scots did well on Australia's line-outs, partly because the Wallabies squandered possession. But the Scots were resolute and creative and actually enjoyed territorial superiority in the half.
The first half was an all-kick affair as far as the scoring went, but it was not a stodgy affair as the Wallabies sought to run free and the resolute Scots not only stood firm but did some raiding into Wallaby territory of their own.
The Wallabies started playing to the wings. The Scots started getting in behind the tackle and making the best of scraps. Their best took Kenny Logan close on the left-wing but his chip dribbled into in-goal where Wendell Sailor killed it.
The handling by both sides was mostly excellent, then crucially poor. Lote Tuqiri came off his left-wing to cut through, only for Mat Rogers to knock on the easiest of passes.
Rogers later cut through brilliantly but the Wallabies were brought back for obstruction by Bill Young who conceded three penalties in the half.
The Wallabies used a penalty to force a five-metre line-out but again the Scots stood firm till they conceded a penalty.
Off-side gave the Wallabies a four-minute lead, but Chris Paterson levelled the score when Stephen Larkham was penalised at a tackle. When Glenn Metcalfe went off-side in front of his posts the Wallabies took the three points -- 6-3 after 22 minutes.
Paterson punished Young's obstruction to make it 6-all after 33 minutes. The Wallabies ran, Andrew Henderson tackled Stirling Mortlock early and Flatley made it 9-6 after 36 minutes.
Then came the moment of the half when Paterson dropped a goal from slap in front, but 49 metres out. The ball sailed high and drew and crossed the crossbar with good room to spare.
The Wallabies made a significant change at half-time. Off went George Smith and on came lanky Matt Cockbain, giving them a third line-out option. The change worked as after this the Scots suffered more in the line-outs than the Wallabies did.
The Australians scored early in the second half. Gregor Townsend broke sharply for Scotland but Phil Waugh won a turnover, gave to Flatley, who gave to Harrison who passed high to his left. Stirling Mortlock tipped the ball, caught it and raced 60 metres to score under the posts with an extravagant dive. That made it 16-9 after 45 minutes.
Larkham had a wobbly drop at goal which hit the crossbar and then Nathan Sharpe cracked through a gap and gave to Flatley who was hauled down from behind. A penalty made it 19-9.
Waugh, who had set up the first try, set up the second. He latched onto a Scottish slap-back at the line-out and raced downfield on the Australian right. The ball sped to Tuqiri on the left-wing. He crabbed half the width of the field. The Wallabies were close and won the ball. George Gregan side-footed a dab of a kick over the line and dived on it to score. The semi-final berth was assured at 26-9 with 22 minutes left.
The Wallabies used a penalty to make a five-metre line-out. This became a five-metre scrum to the left of the posts as they looked at them. From the scrum David Lyons, who had a strong-driving match throughout, picked up and drove at the line for a try with three Scots hanging on him -- 33-9 after 64 minutes.
This became the season for substitutions and the game was played out with the best efforts coming from the Scots.
The Wallabies conceded three penalties within five metres from their goal line. The third became a line-out which splintered and Rob Russell, the replacement hooker, drove swiftly over with Cameron Mather in behind him. Paterson converted and the match ended.
Man of the Match: For Scotland, Nathan Hines was strong and Cameron Mather lively, and then there was noble Simon Taylor, one of the most skilled and most effective No.8s at the Rugby World Cup. For Australia, David Lyons did many battering things into the Scottish ranks, George Gregan ran the show, Matt Cockbain made a big difference and Brendan Cannon did all hooking things well and found time to be a startling loose forward. But our Man of the match is Phil Waugh whose alert, turnover efforts made two tries.
Moment of the Match: The sweetness of Chris Paterson's soaring drop, a magic moment.
Villain of the Match: None whatsoever. Wendell Sailor's petulant slap was too feeble to count.
The Teams:
Australia: 1 Ben Darwin, 2 Brendan Cannon, 3 Bill Young, 4 Justin Harrison, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 6 George Smith, 7 Phil Waugh, 8 David Lyons, 9 George Gregan (c), 10 Steve Larkham, 11 Wendell Sailor, 12 Elton Flatley, 13 Stirling Mortlock, 14 Lote Tuqiri, 15 Mat Rogers
Reserves: Matt Cockbain, Matt Giteau, Jeremy Paul, Joe Roff, Chris Whitaker, Alastair Baxter, Daniel Vickerman
Scotland: 1 Bruce Douglas, 2 Gordon Bulloch, 3 Tom Smith, 4 Nathan Hines, 5 Stuart Grimes, 6 Cameron Mather, 7 Jason White, 8 Simon Taylor, 9 Bryan Redpath (c), 10 Chris Paterson, 11 Kenny Logan, 12 Andrew Henderson, 13 Gregor Townsend, 14 Simon Danielli, 15 Glenn Metcalfe
Reserves: Gordon McIlwham, Jon Petrie, Ben Hinshelwood, James McLaren, Scott Murray, Robbie Russell
Unused: Michael Blair
Attendance: 45412
Referee: Walsh s.
Points Scorers:
Australia
Tries: Mortlock S.A. 1, Gregan G.M. 1, Lyons D. 1
Conv: Flatley E.J. 3
Pen K.: Flatley E.J. 4
Scotland
Tries: Russell R.R. 1
Conv: Paterson C.D. 1
Pen K.: Paterson C.D. 2
Drop G.: Paterson C.D. 1
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