Jason White is halted. (Getty Images)

By Simon Stone, PA Sport, Brisbane

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Australia secured a World Cup semi-final clash against fierce rivals New Zealand in Sydney next Saturday after subduing brave Scotland at Suncorp Stadium.

Retiring Scotland coach Ian McGeechan, skipper Bryan Redpath and wing Kenny Logan all made their Test match farewells on an emotional night when the Scots departed World Cup 2003.

And reigning world champions Australia produced an error-strewn display which did little to dispute the popular theory that they will struggle to successfully defend their crown.

A 10-point scoring burst early in the third quarter took its toll on Scotland, who matched Australia blow for blow during an opening period that finished 9-9.

But centre Stirling Mortlock's breakaway try, converted by centre Elton Flatley, gave the Wallabies breathing space before Flatley's fourth successful penalty handed Scotland a mountain to climb.

Wallabies skipper George Gregan added a second try following wing Lote Tuqiri's powerful 60th-minute break, touching down when possession bounced loose, and Scotland were finished.

Number eight David Lyons pounced for try number three on 64 minutes, which confirmed Australia's second-half dominance.

Scotland at least had the last word when substitute hooker, Australia-born Robbie Russell, powered over for a try with the game's final move.

Flatley ended up with 18 points, yet New Zealand - 29-9 conquerors of South Africa in Melbourne - should have little to fear from an ordinary Australian side.

And Australia should have had their star wing Wendell Sailor at least yellow-carded for a first-half punch that woefully went unpunished, yet he escaped, and the Wallabies marched on.

Fly-half Chris Paterson, who has surely made the Scotland number 10 jersey his own during this World Cup campaign, slotted two first-half penalties, dropped a colossal 50-metre goal and converted Russell's touchdown.

McGeechan, who hands the coaching reigns to Australian Matt Williams post-World Cup and becomes the Scottish Rugby Union's director of rugby, could feel proud of his charges.

But the Wallabies had too many aces up their sleeves when it mattered most, scoring 24 second-half points.

Scotland were determined not to be knocked out of their stride, despite a predictably huge contingent of Wallabies fans, and they quickly recovered from Paterson suffering a knock during pre-match preparations.

Paterson was able to take his place in the starting line-up, but Australia struck first when Flatley landed a 30-metre penalty.

Paterson cancelled out that penalty with an equalising score nine minutes later, which confirmed that Scotland had not arrived merely to make up the numbers following a World Cup campaign marred by stories of player disenchantment and disputes with travelling media.

The Wallabies should have scored a 15th-minute try when their midfield approach play promised much.

Full-back Mat Rogers dropped an easy pass though, and the chance went astray, much to the frustration of his team-mates and home supporters.

A second successful Flatley penalty edged Australia back in front on 22 minutes, but it was wholly unconvincing rugby from the reigning world champions.

New Zealand referee Steve Walsh, banned for one match earlier in the tournament following his verbal spat with England fitness adviser Dave Reddin, was quick to punish both sides' technical indiscipline.

But the game's stop-start nature suited Scotland, who were content to capitalise on Australian handling errors, even if it meant the game as a spectacle hardly moved out of first gear.

Sailor amazingly escaped a caution for throwing a punch at Scotland lock Nathan Hines - Walsh preferring not to punish him despite the intervention of touch-judge Paddy O'Brien - but it confirmed Australia's perplexed state of mind.

Paterson levelled the scores with his second penalty 10 minutes before the break, which was nothing more than Scotland deserved, as Australia failed to make an impact.

Even though Flatley completed his penalty hat-trick before the break, there was little for the crowd to enthuse about, as Australia delivered a display wracked by lethargy.

Paterson's stunning drop-goal just before half-time silenced the crowd, although many of them had long since lost interest in a team that was a pale imitation of the side that secured World Cup glory four years ago.

The Wallabies were booed off at half-time, which said everything, and also announced that Scotland were capable of producing a monumental upset as they ended the first-half level.

Australia made a half-time switch, replacing flanker George Smith with the experienced Matt Cockbain, but the Wallabies continued making errors as Scotland knew they remained in contention.

The decisive moment arrived on 46 minutes when Wallabies openside flanker Phil Waugh snaffled possession on the ground.

Scotland could not react quickly enough, and before they knew what had hit them, Mortlock stretched his legs on an unopposed run.

It was a brilliantly-executed try, converted by Flatley, but was somewhat harsh on a Scottish side who had tackled and battled their hearts out.

A 52nd-minute Flatley penalty put breathing space between the sides at 19-9, and Scotland knew they had to score next, or the World Cup exit door beckoned.

They could not rally to the cause, and a further score from Gregan and Lyons sent Scotland home - even allowing for Russell's injury-time try - and the Wallabies on to Australia's World Cup capital, Sydney.

Teams

Australia: Rogers, Sailor, Mortlock, Flatley, Tuqiri, Larkham, Gregan, Young, Cannon, Darwin, Harrison, Sharpe, Smith, Waugh, Lyons.

Replacements: Roff for Rogers (60), Giteau for Larkham (54), Whitaker for Gregan (67), Paul for Cannon (62), Baxter for Darwin (66), Cockbain for Smith (41).

Not Used: Vickerman.

Tries: Mortlock, Gregan, Lyons.

Cons: Flatley 3.

Pens: Flatley 4.

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

Replacements: Hinshelwood for Metcalfe (47), McLaren for Townsend (75), Russell for Bulloch (72), McIlwham for Douglas (69), Murray for Grimes (63), Petrie for White (66).

Not Used: Blair.

Tries: Russell.

Cons: Paterson.

Pens: Paterson 2.

Drop Goals: Paterson.

Not Used: Blair.

Att: 50,000

Ref: Steve Walsh (New Zealand).