Defending champions Australia and Scotland face each other at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday, 8 November, with an all southern hemisphere semi final or the prospect of a first all northern hemisphere final the possible outcomes.
For Australia, there is more at stake than a semi final berth and retaining the hope of becoming the first team to successfully defend the Webb Ellis Cup, as they are also favourites to set a new Tournament record for consecutive victories.
The Wallabies are currently sharing this benchmark of 10 wins with New Zealand and South Africa, their last defeat having come against England in the quarter finals of Rugby World Cup 1995.
Likewise if Scotland bow out of the Tournament then the curtain will fall on the illustrious career of coach Ian McGeechan, who is moving upstairs to replace the retiring Jim Telfer as the Scottish Rugby Union’s Director of Rugby.
Form Guide
Both sides come into this match having scraped through their respective Pool finales by the smallest of margins, Australia having beaten Ireland 17-16 to top Pool A and Scotland coming from behind to snatch a 22-20 victory over Fiji.
Australia have been the more impressive of the two in their Pool matches, easily overcoming Romania 90-8 and Namibia 142-0 – the biggest winning margin in Rugby World Cup history – after opening the Tournament with a 24-8 win over Argentina.
Scotland by comparison were slow to start against Japan before eventually winning 32-11, tested by the USA Eagles in a 39-15 success and then beaten convincingly by a rampant French side 51-9.
Previous meetings
The two teams have met on 19 occasions with Australia holding the advantage with 12 wins – including the last 10 meetings dating back to July 1982 – to Scotland’s seven successes.
It is almost three years to the day – 11 November 2000 – that the sides last locked horns with Australia leaving Murrayfield with a 30-9 victory on their end of season tour.
However this will be the first meeting between the two nations at a Rugby World Cup.
Ins and Outs
The defending champions have made only two changes from the team that started against Ireland, both of them in the backs with Stirling Mortlock and Lote Tuqiri getting the nod at centre and wing.
Mortlock comes in at the expense of Matt Burke, who does not figure in the squad after suffering bruising of his patella tendon in his right knee against Ireland, while Tuqiri has been preferred to 77 cap veteran Joe Roff on the wing.
Roff drops to the replacements’ bench where he will be joined by lock Justin Harrison who, in the only other change to the 22 man squad announced by coach Eddie Jones, comes in for Daniel Vickerman.
Scotland have also changed little, the only change in their starting line up sees Jason White replace Ross Beattie at flanker, coach Ian McGeechan preferring White’s ball handling skills and the balance he brings to the back row.
White’s elevation from the bench to the starting XV sees lock Scott Murray recalled after being dropped for the must win Pool B finale against Fiji.
Key Players
The selection of Tuqiri in place of the more experienced Roff is an interesting one because it means for the first time that Australia’s three rugby league converts – Wendell Sailor and Mat Rogers being the others – will form the back three.
How the trio respond to the kicking game of Scotland will be interesting with fly half Chris Paterson and centre Gregor Townsend likely to throw many high balls up in the early exchanges to test them out.
The Wallaby back row of Phil Waugh, George Smith and David Lyons have impressed at Rugby World Cup 2003 and number 8 Simon Taylor will be a key player for Scotland as they look to make their mark in the scrum.
Likewise the battle in the lineout with David Giffin and Nathan Sharpe lining up for the Wallabies against Stuart Grimes and Australian born Nathan Hines, both aiming to win good ball for their backs to attack.
What they said
Ewen McKenzie, Australia’s coaching coordinator, on the Scotland team:
“They’ve [Scotland] got a good scrum and a good lineout. They have some tall players and their backs are formidable with lots of speed and skill. They’ve played a different style this year, but can change their tactics so you have to be on guard.”
Wallaby flanker Waugh on the quarter final:
“The challenge at the breakdown will be huge. The Scotland back row really challenge hard to try and win their quick ball, so that’s going to be a real tough contest.
“We haven’t paid a lot of attention to the team outside our Pool, but having now watched Scotland’s games they have improved every match and we are expecting a tough contest.”
Scotland coach McGeechan on the leading nations have had at least one tough match in the Pools:
“I think most teams, apart from maybe France, have had a fright in this Tournament which has made the competition even more vibrant. You come to this stage now and every team will be on its mettle.”
McGeechan on his opposite number Eddie Jones’ suggestions that Scotland are playing ‘last resort rugby’:
“I think, unless I’m mistaken, we’re all playing ‘last resort rugby’, if you don’t win you’re [going] home. I think that applies as much to Australia as it applies to us.
“When you’re in the knockout stages you’re in the top eight, then obviously the game is raised and the stakes are raised.”
Match details
Australia v Scotland
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick off: 20:00 local time
Match officials
Referee: Steve Walsh (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Paddy O’Brien (New Zealand) and Andre Watson (South Africa)
Television match official: Paul Honiss (New Zealand)