After European teams lost their first three quarter-finals, the hopes of the northern hemisphere rested on Scottish shoulders.
Going into the weekend, this looked like the most straightforward game. Australia had been tagged as the mid-tournament favourites thanks to convincing wins over England and Wales.
Scotland, meanwhile, had just about squeezed out a quarter-final berth ahead of Japan thanks largely to the scheduling of their fixtures.
But in the most unlikely fashion, the Scots took the game to the Wallabies and held a 34-32 lead with just a minute remaining before Bernard Foley’s penalty saw Australia through.
Needless to say, the finale caused a few Twitter users a good deal of stress.
Welcome to the longest five minutes in history #AUSvSCO
— Josh Apiafi (@joshapiafi) October 18, 2015
The heavens opened up, but Scottish fans wanted more.
https://twitter.com/toppage/status/655785555335192576
But a questionable late penalty after an offside from a knock-on meant Australia marched on…
Heart breaking for #SCO. Absolutely heart breaking. #AUSvSCO
— Ben Rooney (@benjrooney) October 18, 2015
https://twitter.com/craigdavies/status/655786768155979776
An Englishman, a Welshman and an Irishman walk into a bar. The Scotsman finally turns up and deserves the drink they got in for him #AUSvSCO
— Huw G Jones (@HuwGJones310) October 18, 2015
In the end, Scottish fans weren’t happy to have missed out on a semi-final due to such a contentious penalty…
"Scotland, Scotland, Scotland "is chanted at Twickenham & boos ring out loudly as it is confirmed #AUS got through to the semis. #AUSvSCO
— Talking Rugby Union (@TalkRugbyUnion) October 18, 2015
Can we have a stewards' inquiry on those two bloody awful decisions by the ref? #AUSvSCO
— kirsty scott (@kirstybscott) October 18, 2015
https://twitter.com/Charlie_Hocking/status/655787940614946817
What a decision right in the last minute to give a penalty, not a scrum. I think the Scots have a right to feel aggrieved there #AUSvSCO
— Dr Claire M Benson 🔥 (@PyroClaire) October 18, 2015
https://twitter.com/SirRodders/status/655787894829879296
Joubert has just legged it off the field!!! Make of that what u will
— Nick Easter (@nick_easter) October 18, 2015
Even the players were unhappy with it.
Heartbreak for Scotland. So, so close. Love the honesty from Laidlaw. 'They go to the TMO for everything else, why not for that'
— RugbyDump (@Rugbydump) October 18, 2015
