Brave Scots stun Wallabies
Greig Laidlaw held his nerve in stoppage time to give Scotland a precious 9-6 victory over Australia at Newcastle Stadium.
By Joe Drabble - Twitter: @SkySportsDrabs
Last Updated: 05/06/12 1:07pm
Fly-half Greig Laidlaw held his nerve in stoppage time to give Scotland a precious 9-6 victory over Australia at Newcastle - their first win Down Under since 1982.
Scotland, starting their three-Test summer tour of the South Pacific on the back of seven successive defeats, produced a stoic defensive performance amid atrocious conditions before pinching victory at the death.
With the scores level after 80 minutes, a powerful scrum from Scotland deep in Australia territory resulted in a penalty, and Laidlaw nervelessly stepped up to hand Andy Robinson's men a historic win.
Heavy rain and a swirling wind reduced the quality of attacking play significantly, with Laidlaw and opposite number Mike Harris sharing all 15 points in the first ever Test match at the Newcastle venue.
Pressure
Scotland had the wind on their backs during a largely one-sided opening period with Ross Rennie and debutant Ryan Grant both going close, but two last-ditch tackles denied Scotland an opening score.
Persistent Scotland pressure eventually told on 17 minutes, but Laidlaw's opening penalty attempt was pushed wide by the wind.
High kicks were causing chaos for the Australia defence and when Will Genia missed his awkward grab, only quick reactions from the covering Luke Morahan denied Joe Ansbro an opportunistic score.
Laidlaw made amends on 23 minutes though when he dissected the posts from long range and another superb strike five minutes later put Scotland 6-0 to the good.
Australia enjoyed a rare foray into the Scotland 22 seven minutes before the interval and, after 13 phases of play, it resulted in a first penalty within kicking range, which Harris calmly dispatched.
Desperate
To be only trailing by three points at half-time was a fine achievement by the Wallabies and, with the wind now at their backs, it took the hosts under two minutes to draw level after the restart through Harris' second penalty.
Harris then saw his halfway line attempt cannon back off the upright, albeit below the bar, and more desperate Scotland defending prevented Australia taking the lead before the hour mark.
Rob Simmons and Scott Higginbotham were both held up with the try-line in reach as Scotland's forwards continued to produce tackle after tackle to keep the Wallabies at bay.
A 73rd minute drop-goal attempt from Berrick Barnes was sliced well wide as Australia searched for what surely would have been the winning points.
But, against all odds, Scotland's courage was rewarded in injury time, when Laidlaw struck from their only attacking salvo of the second half.
