Scotland trudge out of the World Cup.

By Neal Collins

Wallabies? It was the Wobblies we saw in Brisbane as the holders and hosts struggled to scuttle Scotland.

Fly-half Chris Paterson, who suffered a nasty blow to the head in the pe-match warm-up, ensured the Scots gave as good as they got for 45 glorious minutes.

His 38th-minute drop goal had the Australians, accustomed to abject surrender in these circumstances, forgetting the lines to Waltzing Matilda as they went to the break at 9-9.

There were 45,412 here hoping to see their side hop back in to some kind of form.

But it never really happened.

Stirling Mortlock, George Gregan and David Lyons scored the killer tries as brave Scotland wilted in the pressure cooker of the Suncorp Stadium.

But Australia, apart from superb flanker Phil Waugh and free-running wing Lote Tuqiri, really looked rather pedestrian.

The good news for England coach Clive Woodward is that neither the Wobblies nor the All Blips look like runaway world champions before their semi-final in Sydney next Saturday.

OK, this was Australia's 11th straight World Cup win, a new record which stretches back to 1995, when Rob Andrew's drop goal ended their campaign at the quarter-final stage (just thought we should mention that).

And of course Scotland, who haven't won Down Under for 21 years, were never really in it after turning around at 9-9.

But boy, coach Ian McGeechan got a fitting send-off from his side in this, his last game before retirement.

Elton Flatley, the all-singing, all-dancing Australian centre, got Australia off to an early 3-0 lead with the first penalty after a couple of minutes, but it was Scotland who had the first real try-scoring opportunity.

Five minutes in, Aussie flanker George Smith messed up his pass near the halfway line, Scotland got hands on the ball and there was Kenny Logan, racing for the line.

His path blocked by the looming presence of the huge Wendell Sailor, Logan went for the chip-ahead but Sailor beat him to the touch down.

Two minutes later Lote Tuqiri, drafted in on the wing for the veteran Joe Roff here, looked like he was away down the wing but Paterson made a sensational try-saving tackle on the touchline 40 yards out.

Paterson, the 25-year-old from Edinburgh, has been the great success story for Scotland here, moved from wing to fly-half at long last by McGeechan.

Before the game, he was hit by a flying ball and looked spark out.

He was helped from the field looking distinctly groggy but here he was, 12 minutes in, getting up from that tackle to land a 40-yard penalty to level the scores.

Mat Rogers is Australia's favourite.

Like Sailor and Tuqiri, he's an expensive Rugby League import.

He scored 42 points against mighty Namibia and is generally more popular than Ned Kelly around this parts.

But in the 15th minute, Tuqiri made as stunning break across the field and found the gorgeous Rogers.

With Sailor outside him drooling for his first try since the opening game against Argentina, Rogers fumbled the pass and, to a furious roar from the yellow-shirted crowd, the chance was gone.

Truth is, Scotland were putting pressure on the wobbly Wallabies and they didn't like it.

After 20 minutes the scores were still level...but the Aussies were putting the Scots line under huge pressure.

Two penalties five yards out had them tackling for their lives and Kiwi ref Steve Walsh, the man suspended after his spat with England trainer Dave Reddin a fort night ago, had a harsh word with captain Bryan Redpath.

Ultimately though, despite the efforts of the fleet-footed Tuqiri, the hulking Sailor and Stephen Larkham, the Aussies couldn't get over. They resorted to a Flatley penalty and were 6-3 up after 23 minutes.

Australian-born Nathan Hines made huge strides in the midfield with the perfectly named Gordon Bulloch - and the same pair were dominating the line-outs - but they lacked a Tuqiri or two out wide.

Look, they can battle this lot, all McGeechan teams do.

But their ball retention was poor and too often players like the veteran Gregor Townsend, making his record 82nd appearance, were caught isolated.

Then a dreadful decison from Walsh, who pulled play back to have a chat with Sailor when Logan looked set to score out wide from a cross kick in the 31st minute.

And local hero Sailor, who pushed Aussie-Scot Hines in the face, got away with a quick chat.

Appalling.

How Walsh can referee a game here after his performance as fifth official against England is beyond belief.

Still, Walsh made up for that when he blew Rogers up for using decoy runners as he made what looked like a try-scoring break.

Paterson landed the penalty from 38 metres (just) and it was 6-6.

Walsh soon earned the ire of the Scots again with a curious penalty right in front after 35 minutes as Mortlock was allegedly tackled early.

Flatley made no mistake, 9-6. Thank you Mr Walsh, sir.

Then, two minutes before the break, a touch of Celtic magic. From fully 48 metres out, Paterson produced a perfect looping drop goal under pressure to level the scores.

The Aussies were stunned. Level at half-time against Scotland. Sadly it couldn't last.

Five minutes in, after further encouraging work from Scotland, the superb Waugh stole possession for Australia in the loose and the ball was worked out to the stirring Mortlock, who slipped two tacklers to run fully 60 yards to the line.

Flatley converted, 16-9.

Glenn Metcalfe, the Scottish full-back who missed Mortlock, was whipped off by McGeechan before the restart.

That'll teach him.

The Aussies burst in to renditions of the banned anthem Waltzing Matilda, which was enough to put off Larkham who hit the bar with a drop goal attempt.

But by now the Scots were wilting.

Whistling Walsh gifted Australia another three points for holding, Flatley kicked it for 19-9 and the wind had finally gone from Scotland's gallant sails.

Poor Paterson, hero of the first hour, was down receiving treatment to his lethal right leg as Australian coach Eddie Jones pulled off his established fly-half Larkham for the versatile Matt Giteau.

George Gregan then nailed the coffin shut.

Another steal from Waugh, a great run from Tuqiri and Gregan, under huge pressure from understudy Chris Whitaker before this game, stubbed the ball forward and won the race. Flatley converted.

Aussie No 8 David Lyons was next, roaring over with the forwards for try number three, converted by Flatley, 33-9 with 15 to play.

Scotland tried their damndest to pull back some kind of late, hollow consolation.

But even replacement Rob Russell's late try couldn't lift spirits.

The Aussies were beatable. The Scots were brave. But not good enough.

The All Blacks will end local interest next Saturday.