Scotland trail by seven at interval

Australia 17-10 Scotland H/T

Scrum-half Chris Cusiter scored his first Test try to keep Scotland within seven points of Australia at half-time.

After the Wallabies had surged ahead with quickfire tries from Wendell Sailor and Lote Tuqiri, Scotland proved the pre-match odds were off-beam by putting concerted pressure on the Australia defence.

After Andy Henderson had a try disallowed, Cusiter dived over from inches out.

Dan Parks, who had given Scotland the lead in the fourth minute, landed the conversion but missed a penalty with the final kick of the half.

But Scotland had to stoutly defend their 22 - as they spent so long doing last week - and they withstood 11 phases before number eight Ally Hogg pressured Gregan and then forced the penalty.

The clearance gained Scotland 40 metres and Australia conceded again at the breakdown to give Dan Parks – who landed all five of his attempts last week – to give Australia the lead from in front of the posts.

Lote Tuqiri beat four tackles from the restart and then Stephen Larkham attempted the cross-field kick to the former rugby league international that worked to such good effect in the World Cup final.

Although Hugo Southwell and Sean Lamont combined to clear Scotland’s lines, Australia maintained the pressure and Radike Samo carved his way into the Scotland 22 before Donnie MacFadyen was penalised at the tackle and Joe Roff levelled the scores with 10 minutes gone.

When Scotland had the platform they threw the ball wide and reached the Australian 22 but could not penetrate as the Wallabies defence held firm and Parks’ attempted drop goal sailed wide.

Ben Hinshelwood then exacted a crunching tackle on Wendell Sailor but neither side could execute through the backs with Southwell for Scotland and then Tuqiri guilty.

After Nathan Sharpe had dived over the top of the ruck, Parks was given the chance to regain the lead but his effort from 45 metres out wide on the left fell just short.

Scotland’s work during the week on building phases was paying dividends and they again mounted pressure as they grew in confidence.

But when the overlap came, with Parks sending a raking ball out to the wing, it was Murray who was waiting and the lock forward did not have the pace to beat the scrambling defence.

Australia hit back with Tuqiri bursting down the short side before Larkham sent a long ball across the backline to Lyons who knocked-on under pressure from Simon Wenster.

But from the ensuing scrum, Scotland were shoved off their own ball and Larkham broke through Jon Petrie – on as a blood-bin replacement – and MacFadyen before handing over to Sailor to score under the posts.

Australia’s second try followed just four minutes later when Waugh and Samo combined to pinch the ball at the breakdown, Samo then embarked on an elusive trademark run and Scotland paid for failing to bring him to ground.

Turinui spread the ball through Larkham and Lyons to Tuqiri, one of two Australians basking in space on the wing, and eight minutes before the interval the Wallabies had stretched their advantage out to 17-3.

But Scotland hit straight back. First they thought Andy Henderson had scored when he burst through, only for referee Mark Lawrence to award a five-metre scrum after he had inadvertently blocked Gregan’s path.

But Scotland did score when scrum-half Chris Cusiter snuck over from the breakdown for his first Test try, converted by Parks.

The Australian-born fly-half then missed a penalty with the final kick of the half that would have taken Scotland to within five points.