Australia went behind 10-0 after seven minutes but came back strongly to overpower the hosts and run away with a comprehensive five-tries-to-two victory with skipper Stirling Mortlock kicking eight goals from eight attempts.

"We are very happy about the result and happy with the whole team performance," said Wallabies flanker George Smith told Sportal after the match.

"We wanted to end the tour on a good note and we knew we were a better team than we had showed in our previous matches against Wales, Italy and Ireland.

"I think we were able to show that tonight coming back from 10-0 down to basically overpower them at home."

Over 60,000 fans packed into Murrayfield to see the match and they were in raptures after the Scots bounded away to an early 10-0 lead.

Scotland skipper Chris Paterson kicked a penalty in the third minute, and just moments later, the home side had scored again when they found space down the left touchline. The ball went through the hands to Simon Webster on the wing and he darted back inside to wrong-foot the cover defence and dive over for the try.

But the Wallabies soon found their groove and hit back on the scoreboard.

Mortlock landed a penalty in the 12th minute and just two minutes later, the visitors were hard on the attack setting up good phase play inside Scotland's 22. The ball was sent wide and Lote Tuqiri almost burst through before turning the attack back inside to man-of-the-match Stephen Larkham, who was able to force his way across adjacent to the posts. Mortlock's conversion levelled the scores.

It seemed the tourists had seized the momentum and were able to attack at will. But last-ditch defence from Scotland denied a rampaging Australian outfit and the Wallabies had to settle for two more penalties from Mortlock to go the break with a six-point lead, 16-10.

The Wallabies came out firing in the second half and after defusing a Scotland raid, fullback Chris Latham put Australia on the attack with one of his trademark runs through the heart of the defence. He was pulled down just inside the opposition 22 but the ball was quickly thrown wide to Mark Gerrard who dived over in the corner. Mortlock threaded the conversion from the sideline for a 23-10 lead.

Just a few minutes later, Gerrard picked up his second try after some fine backline play put Larkham into the clear. As the cover enveloped him, the wily flyhalf got the ball away to Gerrard, who sprinted away for another five-pointer.

Scotland hit back against the run of play just three minutes later when flyhalf Dan Parks put a cross-kick over for right winger Sean Lamont. Tuqiri slipped while turning to mark the kick and Lamont was able to scoop up the ball and coast over for a try to make the score 30-15 and offer the hosts the faintest glimmer of hope.

But Australia quickly extinguished any comeback with Larkham again instrumental. This time, the veteran flyhalf threw a lovely inside dummy and sprinted into a gap on the halfway line. He found replacement flanker Phil Waugh in support who galloped towards the tryline only to be pulled down a metre short.

From the ensuing ruck, Matt Giteau found Stephen Moore on the burst and the young hooker, making his debut in the Wallabies run-on team, forced his way over beside the posts. Mortlock slotted home the conversion to make it 37-15.

Larkham was rewarded with an early shower five minutes from full-time with Josh Valentine coming at scrumhalf and Giteau moving to flyhalf. Mat Rogers also replaced Scott Staniforth, who had a strong game at inside centre.

Another free flowing backline movement resulted in Chris Latham slicing through for a deserved try. Mortlock added the extras before the referee blew his whistle on the resounding Wallabies victory.

Wallabies 44
Tries: Gerrard 2, Larkham, Moore, Latham
Conversions: Mortlock 5
Penalty Goals: Mortlock 3

Scotland 15
Tries: Webster, Lamont
Conversions: Paterson
Penalties: Paterson

Sportal