RWC loss left Scotland hungry for revenge

Nov 7, 2016 - 10:00 PM Enraged by a controversial World Cup exit at the hands of the Wallabies, Scotland's players vowed to return to the Test arena hungrier and more desperate for success.

Scotland's players were devastated that their quarter-final loss to Australia at last year's World Cup was decided by the steady boot of Wallabies No.10 Bernard Foley - who slotted a last-minute penalty which still stings the Bravehearts.

That the penalty had been awarded for offside - despite appearing to touch Wallabies half Nick Phipps, which should've resulted in a scrumfeed to Australia - aggrieved the Bravehearts, who pleaded with referee Craig Joubert to refer to the Television Match Official.

But, with TMO unable to review such a decision, Foley stepped up to steal a 35-34 win and a semi-final berth as Joubert ran from the field and Scotland's players raged.

Playmaker Peter Horne gave Scotland a shock lead that day when he crossed for an impressive try in the first, but his main memories are from a sombre train ride back to Glasgow in defeat.

"A couple of days (later) we were coming back up on the train (thinking) games like that make you hungrier for more," Horne recalled in Edinburgh on Monday.

"I was just desperate to get another crack, to get another game in a Scotland shirt and play in front of a big crowd like that and try and go a bit better.

"It does just make you hungrier for more. It's great that we are playing them this weekend and we get another crack at them."

To destroy Australia's grand slam bid would likely heal some World Cup wounds, and Scotland will get that chance at Murrayfield on Saturday (Sunday 0130 AEDT).

But Horne was under no illusions as to the size of the task his team faces - suggesting recent criticism of Australia's form in a mixed 2016 has been over the top, given much of it has resulted from defeats to the dominant All Blacks.

"There's been a bit of negative press against them the last couple of months just from losing to New Zealand," said Horne, who described Australia's tour-opening win over Wales as 'outstanding'.

"But just because you've lost a couple of games to New Zealand doesn't make you a bad team. They showed that on the weekend. They were outstanding.

"Bernard Foley was brilliant, (fullback Israel) Folau was back to his best and they put away a good Wales side.

"It'll be a really good test but that's why you play the game. You want to play the best players in the world."

Source: AAP