Simon Taylor barrels his way through (Getty Images).

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Lions prop Tom Smith spared sorry Scotland from the most embarrassing defeat in their rugby history with a 78th-minute try to sink Pacific Island heroes Fiji.

The Scots looked certain to tumble out of the World Cup after a wretched performance in which they had been humiliated by the blinding pace of flying winger Rupeni Caucau.

But right at the death, Scotland were saved by a professional foul from Api Naevo which earned the lock 10 minutes in the sin-bin and provided Ian McGeechan's side with the platform to launch the line-out drive from which Smith eventually drove over.

It was cruel luck on Fiji, who had led for almost the entire contest, were the better side and in Caucau had the game's most outstanding player.

Caucau had already lit up the tournament once with a scintillating solo effort against France, his only appearance in the tournament so far following the two-match ban he received for punching Olivier Magne in the same game.

At Aussie Stadium today, it was Scotland's turn to feel the force as first Caucau took a forward-looking pass from Aisea Tuilevu to grab the game's opening try before completing an 80-metre romp downfield late in the opening period to confirm his reputation as one of the best players in the world.

As they trudged disconsolately off the field at half-time, the one positive Scotland were clinging onto was that they were not out of the game altogether.

Apart from Caucau's double, Fiji came close to scoring another three times as their hapless opponents toiled.

Within two minutes of his opening score, the brilliant Auckland winger was haring after his own chip kick, putting rookie fly-half Chris Paterson under enormous pressure before Kenny Logan bailed him out with a beefy punt downfield.

Then Metcalfe rose to the challenge when Tuilevu scooped up a mis-placed Gregor Townsend pass and shot eight metres downfield, the Scottish full-back flying across to send his opponent spinning into the corner post.

Finally there was the farcical situation of almost the entire Scottish team standing idly by as Norman Ligairi's drop-goal attempt faded just short of the uprights. Cameron Mather was alone in giving chase but even he would not have prevented Caucau scoring had he not slipped in the in-goal area and the ball took a wicked bounce.

It was after this period that the Pacific Islanders appeared to be tiring. Paterson booted over successive penalties, Metcalfe went close, then blood bin replacement James McLaren put a pass down when he had a better than even chance of barging over the line.

At that stage, McGeechan must have been reasonably confident, only for Caucau to produce his second magical moment, leaving McLaren for dead, then shrugging off Metcalfe's attentions on his 80-metre dash to the line.

It was a body blow which could have floored Scotland, especially as Danielli did not return after the interval, leaving McLaren to fill in on the wing.

To their credit, Scotland did not panic and enjoyed the same dominance at the start of the second half as they had at the end of the first.

Two more Paterson penalties dragged them to within a couple of points at the hour mark and the sight of Caucau hobbling up and down the touchline with an obvious leg injury at least suggested they were not going to get caught out by another blistering burst.

It was another two minutes before Scotland went in front for the first time as Paterson landed his fifth penalty, yet the advantage lasted barely 60 seconds as Little set a 40-metre effort sailing between the sticks after Mather had gone offside at a ruck.

A second Little effort five minutes from time appeared to signal the start of a Pacific party, only for Smith to cruelly cut the celebrations short and send Scotland stumbling into the last eight.

Teams

Scotland: Metcalfe, Danielli, Townsend, Henderson, Logan, Paterson, Redpath, Smith, Bulloch, Douglas, Hines, Grimes, Beattie, Mather, Taylor.

Replacements: Hinshelwood for Metcalfe (73), McLaren for Danielli (41), White for Beattie (44).

Not Used: Russell, McIlwham, Petrie, Blair.

Tries: Smith.

Cons: Paterson.

Pens: Paterson 5.

Fiji: Ligairi, Tuilevu, Ruivadra, Rabeni, Caucaunibuca, Little, Rauluni, Rasila, Smith, Vetayaki, Rawaqa, Naevo, Maimuri, Sewabu, Doviverata.

Replacements: Delasau for Ruivadra (79), Isikeli for Rabeni (79), Raulini for Rauluni (67), Seru for Smith (32), Koyamaibole for Maimuri (50), Salawa for Sewabu (69).

Not Used: Tawake.

Tries: Caucaunibuca 2.

Cons: Little 2.

Pens: Little 2.

Sin Bin: Naevo (76).

Att: 38,000

Ref: Tony Spreadbury (England).