Wallabies tiptoe past unlucky Scots

Scotland saw their semi-final hopes dashed when Bernard Foley’s kick sailed through the uprights with a minute to spare, earning Australia a famous 35-34 victory in a thrilling match that will live long in the memory. Among other reasons, the contentious nature of key decisions from referee Craig Joubert will rankle Scottish fans for years to come, though five tries to three for the Wallabies suggests that ultimately the best team won on the day.

Australia got off to a fine start when Tevita Kuridrani broke through the line and put Adam Ashley-Cooper clean through to the line for the first try. Foley missed the difficult conversion, but the danger presented by the Wallaby backline was already ominously evident.

The Scots were not prepared to lie down, however, and after skipper Greig Laidlaw slotted a penalty goal, they replied with a try of their own to midfielder Peter Horne, whose quick thinking saw him sneak through a ruck with no defense at home. Laidlaw’s conversion was on target, as was a subsequent penalty that gave his side an early eight point advantage.

Drew Mitchell dove over in the corner some eight minutes later after a long series of phases stretched the Scottish defense thin. Laidlaw knocked over another kick, but the Wallabies were there to score tries. It was vice-captain Michael Hooper who got the next one off the back of a driving maul just before the half to close the gap to a single point.

Controversy struck immediately in the second half as Sean Maitland was deemed to have intentionally knocked the ball down on a Wallaby attack, thought he replays suggested that there was at least reasonable cause to think he had been going for the intercept. With the man in the bin, Will Genia immediately attacked the short side, with Mitchell on hand to take the pass and dive into the corner.

Laidlaw slotted his fourth penalty before Foley put himself in a spot of bother. Running just outside his 22, the Australian flyhalf tried to chip over his opposite Finn Russell, only to be charged down for what looked a certain try. Genia did incredibly well to chase down Russell but Tommy Seymour was on hand to take the offload and race through for the try. The conversion was missed but Australia were on notice.

Kuridrani injected himself into the game once again, this time taking the ball flat-footed from a ruck but having just enough strength to bash through two defenders and reach out with his long arms for the try. Foley hit the routine conversion to give Australia their own eight point lead with 15 minutes left to play.

A quick Scottish reply yielded a fifth penalty goal for Laidlaw before disaster struck for the Wallabies. Replacement prop James Slipper floated a shocking pass that was picked off by Mark Bennett, and the centre sprinted 35 metres to score under the sticks. Laidlaw’s conversion put Scotland two points ahead and Australia on the brink of elimination.

Foley’s winning score went over in the final minute of play. A scrappy Scottish lineout bounced awkwardly for John Hardie and the ball appeared to come forward into the hands of Jon Welsh. Without the benefit of the TMO available, Joubert ruled Welsh offside to the horror of Laidlaw and Scottish fans alike. Arguments of whether the call was correct will stretch long into the night – and likely much further – but the result stands and Australia are headed to the semi-final to face Argentina while Scotland are left bitterly disappointed after a commendable effort.

AUSTRALIA 35
Tries – A. Ashley-Cooper (9), D. Mitchell 2 (29, 43), M. Hooper (39), T. Kuridrani (64)
Cons – B. Foley 2 (44, 65)
Pens – B. Foley 2 (54, 80)

SCOTLAND 34
Tries – P. Horne (18), T. Seymour (59), M. Bennett (73)
Cons – G. Laidlaw 2 (19, 74)
Pens – G. Laidlaw 5 (14, 21, 34, 47, 69)
Yellow cards – S. Maitland (41)

AUSTRALIA
1 S. Sio (J. Slipper 50) 2 S. Moore (capt.) (T. Polota-Nau 62) 3 S. Kepu (G. Holmes 54) 4 K. Douglas 5 R. Simmons (D. Mumm 65) 6 S. Fardy 7 M. Hooper 8 B. McCalman 9 W. Genia (N. Phipps 71) 10 B. Foley 11 D. Mitchell 12 M. Giteau 13 T. Kuridrani 14 A. Ashley-Cooper 15 K. Beale

SCOTLAND
1 A. Dickinson (G. Reid 47) 2 R. Ford (F. Brown 54) 3 W. Nel (J. Welsh 75) 4 R. Gray 5 J. Gray (T. Swinson 67) 6 B. Cowan (J. Strauss 67) 7 J. Hardie 8 D. Denton 9 G. Laidlaw (capt.) 10 F. Russell 11 T. Seymour (S. Lamont 63) 12 P. Horne (R. Vernon 71) 13 M. Bennett 14 S. Maitland 15 S. Hogg