Rugby
Scotland shock Wallabies
2012-06-05 13:19
Newcastle - Flyhalf Greig Laidlaw kicked a penalty after the full-time siren to
give Six Nations wooden spooners Scotland a stunning 9-6 win over
Australia at stormy Newcastle on Tuesday.
It was Scotland's first win in Australia for 30 years since their 12-7 victory at Brisbane's Ballymore stadium in 1982.
The
Scots humbled the Wallabies for the second time in three years with a
gutsy defensive display in the second half to pull off a win in
atrocious wet and windy conditions.
Scotland last rocked the
Wallabies in their 9-8 upset at Murrayfield in November 2009 to end a
16-game losing run against Australia.
Laidlaw kicked the Scots to
victory in Australia with three penalty goals from four shots while
debutant centre Mike Harris landed two of his four kicks in the try-less
arm wrestle.
It looked as though Scotland were going to settle
for a 6-6 draw until they earned a scrum penalty in front of Australia's
posts for Laidlaw to slot home to wild jubilation among the Scottish
players.
Australia laid siege to the Scottish try-line in the
second half but the Scots held firm with resolute defence to deny the
Wallabies the game-breaking try.
It was another low point for the Wallabies, who lost to Samoa 32-23 in their first international last season.
The Scots had conducive atrocious wet conditions and ran with a stiff wind in the opening half.
The
Wallabies were under early pressure and Scotland dominated possession
and territory with Laidlaw putting them ahead with two penalties inside
the opening 28 minutes.
But Australia's forwards began to control
the ball and were rewarded after 12 phases inside Scotland's quarter to
receive a penalty for off-side.
Harris, with Berrick Barnes
holding the ball to prevent it from toppling off the kicking tee, landed
the penalty to reduce Scotland's lead to three points after 33 minutes.
The Wallabies did well to go in at half-time only down by three after running into the teeth of a gale.
Harris
levelled the scores three minutes after the interval with his second
penalty, as the Australians sought to take full advantage of the
following wind.
Rob Simmons, who replaced injured lock Sitaleki
Timani, went over the Scottish try-line in the 56th minute but the video
referee ruled replays were inconclusive and no try was awarded.
The
Australian forwards kept pummelling away at the line but the Scots
defence held firm against the mounting weight of possession against
them.
So frustrated were the Wallabies in their efforts to break
down the resolute Scotland defence that Barnes had a drop goal attempt
with seven minutes left but it was wide.
South African referee
Jaco Peyper penalised Wallabies' prop James Slipper for losing the bind
in a collapsed scrum and Laidlaw kicked Scotland to a famous victory.