And so the end is near for the Wallabies, with Twickenham this weekend their final curtain. The world champions are, as their coach Rod Macqueen puts it, only firing on five out of six cylinders and are as out-of-season as Blackpool in January. Nevertheless, they cruise on, having eclipsed Scotland for power and pace, and England cannot yet be backed with absolute confidence to switch off these tourists' illuminations.
This is not to say Saturday's Test is beyond the grasp of Clive Woodward's side, merely that their hopes and dreams of self-justifying glory will swiftly degenerate into a discordant Last Night of the Poms unless they outflank a defensive screen which again refused to buckle, or even budge, against the Scots' intelligently-applied early pressure. Keeping a close eye on the muscular Wallaby back three of Chris Latham, Joe Roff and Matt Burke, who scored all their side's points, will also be a basic prerequisite.
For as France discovered in Paris, Australia are patient to the point of obsession. Sneaking a few diamonds out of the Dome during their week in London, for example, would be well within their compass, because they plan all their moves with meticulous care and possess, from the haring Burke to the Roff rider on the opposite wing, a seriously enviable range of getaway vehicles.
John Eales, their gentlemanly captain, would, of course, scupper the whole exercise by politely handing back the gems the following morning and apologising for any inconvenience caused, not least because the Australian Rugby Union trophy cabinet is overflowing with baubles already.
In front of 64,103 spectators, a tribute to the Scottish rugby union's vastly-improved marketing efforts, the home side were still in the game early in the second half at 9-9 but, after Gregor Townsend had sliced his second drop-goal attempt, the Scottish tackling slipped below the high standards now required by all successful Test sides.
On softer pitches away from home, the Wallabies tend to soak up pressure for an hour like some giant sponge before uncoiling. Latham's 50th-minute score gave his side the momentum they had been seeking and Roff, playing his 50th successive test, celebrated by supplying both the second try and the long pass for Burke, resembling a true winger rather than a converted fullback, to dive over in the right corner.
It was the most flamboyant moment all day, give or take Lulu's pre-match singing and leather trousers, a rare glint of individualism from this most unflashy of teams.
Scorers: Scotland - Penalties: Townsend 3. Australia - Tries: Latham, Roff, Burke; conversions: Burke 3; penalties: Burke 3.
SCOTLAND: Paterson (Edinburgh); C Murray (Edinburgh), A Bulloch (Glasgow), J Leslie (Newcastle), Steel (Glasgow); Townsend (Castres), Redpath (Sale); Smith (Brive), Brotherstone (Northampton), Graham (Newcastle), S Murray (Saracens), Grimes (Newcastle), Petrie (Glasgow), Pountney (capt, Northampton), Taylor (Edinburgh). Replacements: G Bulloch (Glasgow) for Brotherstone (51 mins); McIlwham (Glasgow) for Graham (53 mins); Metcalfe (Edinburgh) for Grimes (64 mins), J White (Glasgow) for Petrie (64 mins), Graham for White (81 mins).
AUSTRALIA: Latham; Burke, Herbert, Mortlock, Roff; Kafer, Cordingley; Young, Foley, Dyson, Giffin, Eales (capt), Cockbain, Smith, Kefu. Replacements: Paul for Foley, Williams for Cockbain (both 40 mins); Panoho for Dyson (46 mins), Faltely for Kafer (55 mins), Connors for Kefu (68 mins), Gray for Mortlock, Whitaker for Cordingley (76 mins).
Referee: C White (England).
