Scotland beat Australia after 28-year wait

Edinburgh: Scotland beat Australia for the first time in 28 years on Saturday after Wallabies flyhalf Matt Giteau missed an injury-time conversion in a 9-8 defeat at Murrayfield.

Australia wasted two scoring chances before outside centre Ryan Cross went over in injury time for the only try of the game. That left Giteau with the chance to win the game but the flyhalf sent his conversion attempt wide.

"The error rate was something that really hurt us," Australia captain Rocky Elsom said. "If I was going to give a crucial kick to anyone, it would be Matt. He's our kicker and he's the best we've got."

Defence

Scotland's Phil Godman kicked two penalties and Chris Paterson landed a drop goal in a game where the Scottish defence was outstanding and the Australians were punished for their mistakes.

"I've said to the team that is the most courageous performance I've ever been involved in," said Scotland coach Andy Robinson, who used to be in charge of England.

"The amount of ball that we gave Australia to play with throughout the game and the courage that the players had to get up and keep knocking them over [was exceptional]. We needed a bit of luck. I thought the guys worked hard to establish that luck."

Giteau should have put the Wallabies into a healthy halftime lead but missed an easy penalty and then sliced a drop goal attempt wide of the posts in first-half injury time.

Godman pulled an angled penalty wide after a Scottish break had forced another penalty, but he made it 6-3 in the 57th minute with a 44-metre kick which went over off the inside of the post.

Elsom charged over the Scottish line but it didn't count as he was prevented from touching down.

"I felt that I had enough pressure on the ball, that it was down on the ground," Elsom said.