Scotland report card: Brave losers must build on this

Scotland may have surprised themselves, but there's no merit in just being brave losers and doing nothing with it. The dubious decisions that went against them from the referee should show them that they are capable of competing against sides with the talent of Australia. That means they should now know they are the match of any Six Nations side. That is the real test of their mentality.

Scrum-half, kicker and captain, Laidlaw does not have an easy time of it. However, his kicking deserves recognition, as does his ability to lead Scotland from the very start, and keep their skill and commitment at the necessary levels for almost all of the match.

Australia's feted scrum found it difficult to deal with the insistence, strength and gamesmanship of their Scottish peers, and they were regularly penalised for faults - genuine and cynically earned by Scotland - and part of that was down to Nel's involvement.

Plenty of the Scottish players deserve recognition, but Mark Bennett's interception and try was almost the most impressive part of the game, were it not for Australia's ability to find victory at the last.

Australia have won three games in a row at Twickenham for the first time ever.

Australia have reached their sixth Rugby World Cup semi-final (level with France), only New Zealand have reached more (7).

Australia won a Rugby World Cup game after trailing at half-time for the first time ever.

Maitland was harshly punished for his knock-on in the first half, and there's reason to wonder if it was because he doesn't carry the weight of better known players at the tournament. It's not really his fault, but the decision against him was a major reason for Scotland's defeat.