Scots U21s pipped by Australians

Scotland Under-21s suffered an agonising 18-14 injury-time defeat to Australia in their opening match of the World Championship in France.

They were 14-0 ahead at the break and up 14-13 late on, thanks to a Ross Rennie try and three penalties from captain David Blair.

But they were beaten in the last move of the game at the Stade Darragon.

Coach John Jeffrey said: "The team played outstandingly. Even the Aussies admitted how lucky they'd been."

He added: "It was a gutsy performance and we were just seconds away from an historic victory as we've never beaten Australia at this level.

"Sport can be cruel at times and our boys ran them so close, it's heart-wrenching."

---

Scotland U21 team: J King (Borders); B Addison (Stirling Co), B Cairns (Edinburgh), G Law (Borders), L Kibble (Borders); D Blair (Sale, capt), G Laidlaw (Jed-Forest); R Grant (The Army), S Crombie (Aberdeen GSFP), D Young (Leicester), J Eddie (Glasgow), I Nimmo (Leicester), A MacDonald (Edinburgh), R Rennie (Edinburgh), J Barclay (Glasgow).
Replacements: K Traynor (Edinburgh), I Brown (Stirling Co), A Kelly (Hillhead/Jordanhill), S Newlands (Heriot's), M Bringhurst (Watsonians), I Kennedy (Glasgow), C Johnston (Newcastle).