Australia beat Scotland in World Cup quarter-final thriller

Scotland suffered a heartbreaking loss as Australia won a sensational quarter-final 35-34 with a controversial late penalty.

In an enthralling encounter, Mark Bennett looked to have sealed a famous victory for Scotland when he crossed seven minutes from time.

But as the clock ticked towards 80 minutes, referee Craig Joubert awarded Australia a penalty for deliberate offside against Scotland, but replays seemed to show the ball had come of a Wallaby man.

Bernard Foley then kept his composure to slot over the three points and send Australia into the semi-finals.

Referee Joubert sprinted to the tunnel after he blew the full-time whistle as Scotland were left devastated.

This loss for Scotland will be one of the toughest to take, but for a side that were completly outplayed at the Six Nations earlier in the year, this performance shows the future looks bright for Vern Cotter's side.

As for Australia, their excellent recent form under coach Michael Cheika has seen them lose just once in their last 10 games and they will now meet Argentina next Saturday for a place in the final.

The whole match was an absorbing spectacle and the first half really set the tone for this quarter-final. Australia dominated the opening stages as they had the majority of possession and Foley almost touched down after a good break.

Moments later, Tevita Kuridrani blasted his way past Tommy Seymour and drew the final Scotland defender before finding Adam Ashley Cooper who dived into the right corner.

But Scotland responded as captain Greig Laidlaw struck over a penalty and then his side took a surprise lead as Peter Horne sniped his way over from the base of a ruck after relentless pressure from the Scotland forwards.

Laidlaw converted and then gave Scotland a 13-5 lead as he slotted over another penalty, before Kurtley Beale freed up Drew Mitchell on the left hand side to score the Wallabies’ second try.

Foley was off target with the conversion again and when Scotland’s forwards used their power at the scrum to win a penalty, Laidlaw gave them a 16-10 advantage.

An electric first half ended with a bang as Australia used their weapon of a driving maul – which was causing Scotland problems - to score try number three as Michael Hooper dotted down. Foley once more failed to convert as Scotland went into the break 15-16 to the good.

Joubert’s first controversial moment of this quarter-final came a minute into the second half as Scotland winger Sean Maitland was very harshly sinbinned for a deliberate knock. Australia then punished Vern Cotter’s side as from a line-out, Mitchell again crossed after good awareness from Matt Giteau – who was making his 100^th test appearance for the Wallabies.

Foley did convert on this occasion, but Laidlaw kept Scotland on the coattails of their opposition and when Ashley Cooper had a try ruled out by the TMO after a knock-on at a ruck in the build-up, the Scots still believed.

And that belief grew stronger when Finn Russell charged down Foley’s terrible clearance, which he gathered, before offloading superbly to Seymour to cross the whitewash.

But as soon as Scotland got back into the contest, Australia edged further clear as Kuridrani barged over after good patient build up play to make it 32-24.

Laidlaw knocked over his fifth penalty with 10 minutes to play before Twickenham was sent into pandemonium as Scotland took the lead. Bennett intercepted replacement James Slipper’s past to slide under the posts and the reliable Laidlaw gave his side a two point lead.

But then came the drama. Scotland lost their line-out which resulted in the ball going loose and Joubert making his key decision.

Foley,also know as the 'Iceman', stayed cool under pressure to give his side the lead with seconds remaining and on the full-time whistle, Joubert bizarrely darted to the tunnel as Scotland’s dream was shattered.

Line-Ups

Australia: Beale; Ashley-Cooper, Kuridrani, Giteau, Mitchell; Foley, Genia; Sio, Moore, Kepu, Douglas, Simmons, Fardy, Hooper, McCalman.

Replacements: Polota-Nau, Slipper, Holmes, Mumm, McMahon, Phipps, Toomua, Cooper

Tries: Mitchell (2), Ashley-Cooper, Hooper, Kuridrani

Cons: Foley (2)

Pens: Foley (2)

Scotland: Hogg; Maitland, Bennett, Horne, Seymour; Russell, Laidlaw; Dickinson, Ford, Nel, R Gray, J Gray, Cowan, Hardie, Denton.

Replacements: Brown, Reid, Wlesh, Swinson, Strauss, Pyrgos, Vernon, Lamont

Tries: Seymour, Horne, Bennett

Cons: Laidlaw (2)

Pens: Laidlaw (5)