AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — After a second and more devastating last-ditch loss in as many weeks, Andy Robinson's Scotland squad is relying on a rugby exile to help produce the unthinkable upset win it needs to stay in the Rugby World Cup.
Scotland couldn't beat Argentina, conceding a late try to lose 13-12 last weekend to leave it needing to beat 2003 champion England by eight points Saturday to guarantee survival at the World Cup.
That was looking good at 12-3 approaching the hour mark. A narrower win was on the cards until three minutes from time, when Chris Ashton crossed to give England a 16-12 win.
Now the Scots need ex-national coach Richie Dixon's Georgia squad to beat Argentina on Sunday, without conceding a bonus point.
It's highly likely Scotland is going to miss the knockout stage at the World Cup for the first time.
Robinson, who helped England win the 2003 title, hasn't given up hope.
"We're going to be supporting Georgia tomorrow, hoping they can do a job for us with Richie Dixon as coach," he said.
Dixon played for Scotland from 1969 to 1980 and coached its national side from 1995 to 1998, so he'll be doing everything he can to win for two countries.
Scotland brought all the intensity and passion that it could muster against England, continuing a tense rivalry that is the oldest in international rugby. The weather conditions helped make it feel like Murrayfield, with rain during the anthems making the field slippery and the ball greasy, but it wasn't quite enough. Scotland hadn't beaten England by eight points in 25 years and hadn't beaten its traditional foe away from home in that time, either.
After leading 12-3 going into the last quarter, Scotland conceded 13 unanswered points — including Chris Ashton's try in the 78th minute.
"The big thing is the sport is won and lost by inches, and in both games when it's come to winning the game we've lost out," he said. "I've got to give every credit to the side, they've gone out and given it everything.
"We're severely disappointed to lose the game — as we were last week — but there's a great spirit among the boys."
The Scots didn't do themselves any favors in the tournament, struggling early before putting Romania away 34-24 in their opening match at Invercargill before behind held 15-6 by Georgia.
The attacking limitations were exposed in those games, and more so in the loss to Argentina. With a bigger, faster backline selected, with orders to be direct, the Scots were certainly vigorous with the ball but couldn't breach an England defense that had conceded only one try in the tournament.
Scotland skipper Alastair Kellock was convinced his team's run was over, not giving Georgia much chance of beating Argentina — which finished third in 2007 — only four days after beating Romania for only its second win ever at the World Cup.
"Once again we slipped at the crucial times. We are going home now ... I am gutted," he said. "We were in a difficult group but we had the opportunities to win last week's game and the same this week, but we didn't take them. Good luck to England."
But big lock Richie Gray, who missed a chance to chase down a kick as it rolled in-goal in the second half, hadn't given up all hope.
"To lose like we did last week and to lose like we did this week, is just so devastating," he said. "We know we've got the talent, we know we can get there, we've just got to nail it down and turn these close losses into victories.
"We'll just have to regroup from here, but I've got my fingers crossed for (Georgia) tomorrow."
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