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In one of the great escapes in Rugby World Cup history, Australia have moved into the semi-finals with a win over Scotland, kicking a penalty goal with just two minutes left on the clock to steal the game.
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In a thrilling encounter, Scotland took the lead through a Mark Bennett intercept try with just four minutes to play as the rain began to tumble down at Twickenham.
It was the third time they’d crossed the line after an Australian mistake.
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Although they’d scored five tries to the Scots’ three, the Wallabies found themselves behind on the scorecard with only a few minutes left to conjure up an escape.
Fortunately for them, though, they won a penalty after the ball rebounded off a Scottish player following an untidy line-out. Bernard Foley then stepped up for Australia, with the pressure of a nation on his shoulders, and knocked the penalty over to send the favoured Wallabies into the semi-finals.
Earlier, it was the steady boot of Scottish captain Greig Laidlaw that punished the Wallabies in the first half, as they took a 16-15 lead into the break.
The sole try for the Scots came after a momentary lapse in defence at the ruck which saw centre Pete Horne cross in the 18th minute, giving Scotland a five-point lead.
This was in response to an earlier try from Adam-Ashley Cooper after the Scottish defence rushed up on Tevita Kuridrani, giving the Wallabies flier a clear run to the line.
Drew Mitchell crossed in the 30th minute for Australia before Stephen Moore made a shrewd call to go for the lineout in the 39th minute, allowing Australia to crash over for a try right on the stroke of halftime.
Bernard Foley failed to convert all three first-half tries.
Australia retook the lead swiftly in the second half, with Drew Mitchell scoring his second try of the game. This was after a yellow card had been issued to Scottish right winger, Sean Maitland, for a deliberate knockdown with the Wallabies on attack.
After a Laidlaw penalty, the Wallabies thought they were in again, but the TMO found a subtle knock-on at the ruck and the play was called back for a scrum.
A Bernard Foley penalty followed, giving Australia their six-point buffer back with 25 minutes to play.
But a charge-down from Scotland in the Wallabies half allowed Tommy Seymour to charge over for a try, cutting the lead to just one with 20 minutes left on the clock. Greig Laidlaw narrowly missed his first kick of the night.
Australia missed a couple of opportunities to put another try on the board, moving the ball from side to side. But eventually the pressure told on the Scots, who couldn’t prevent Tevita Kuridrani reaching out to score the Wallabies’ fifth try of the game in the 64th minute.
Foley converted to give Australia an eight-point buffer. A penalty to Laidlaw cut it to five points with 11 minutes on the clock.
Then horror struck for the Wallabies.
As the rain pelted down for the first time in the match, James Slipper threw a risky ball in his own half which was pounced on by the Scots for a converted try.
So with just four minutes left on the clock, Scotland was ahead by two.
That lead didn’t last long, At a defensive line-out, the ball bounced around like a pinball, came off a Scottish shoulder, and was eventually picked up in front of the offender.
Referee Joubert blew his whistle and awarded a penalty to Australia.
Bernard Foley stepped up, steadied himself, then struck the ball sweetly through the posts.
Scottish hearts were broken as the Aussies celebrated.
The Wallabies escaped to fight another day against Argentina in the semi-final, with the winner of that match playing the winner of the All Blacks-Springboks battle on the over side of the draw.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.