Four penalties from Dan Parks in reply to Matt Giteaus try and eight points from Joe Roff had ensured Scotland were deservedly in touch at the interval.

But the Wallabies cranked up the pressure after half-time, Tuqiri struck twice and Wendell Sailor rounded off the scoring with a soft try in the closing minutes.

Parks, who was born in Sydney and had said the match represented the biggest occasion of his life, finished with all 15 of Scotlands points from a faultless kicking display.

Although defeat extended Scotlands losing streak against Australia to 12 matches in 22 years, it was a spirited display from which coach Matt Williams can draw many positives - particularly the performance of fullback Hugo Southwell, who was making his first Test start in place of the injured Chris Paterson.

Although the selection of Parks over Gordon Ross was questioned by Wallabies coach Eddie Jones, the reasoning behind it was evident immediately as Scotland employed an early no-risk approach.

Parks and Southwell were clearing their lines, backing Scotlands defence and forcing the Wallabies to counter from deep inside their own half and as a result Australia did not make a tackle for the first eight minutes.

Roff handed Australia the lead after three minutes with a penalty awarded against Donnie MacFadyen, who was spotted slowing down the ball at the tackle area - something the Scots had to do effectively to keep the Wallabies dangerous runners shackled.

The Scottish defence was solid, the line moving up quickly and even when Clyde Rathbone, on his Test debut, burst onto a wonderful floated pass from Stephen Larkham he was halted by a crunching tackle from Southwell, the first of many in the game.

Despite that the Wallabies continued to look the more dangerous in the opening quarter and created the first score after Roff had extended the lead with a second penalty - becoming only the fifth Australian to score 200 points.

It was a swift counter-attack which showed just why Scotland had been working so hard to keep the play tight.

Sailor burst around Andy Henderson, George Gregan then slipped a magical ball out the back of his hand to rampaging number eight David Lyons who sent Giteau clear for his fifth Test try.

Scotland, though, were far from beaten and took the challenge back to Australia, keeping the Wallabies shackled with positive, aggressive defence and forcing them to concede penalties at the breakdown.

Parks landed all four first-half efforts to draw his adopted nation to within one point by the interval.

Australia opened the second half at pace and only Scotlands brave and defiant defence kept Tuqiri out in the 41st minute as he powered towards the try-line.

Another crunching cover tackle from Southwell on Rathbone halted an Australia counter-attack from inside their own 22 - but the pressure was on.

Sailor, used as a battering ram through the middle, drew Scotlands defence into the breakdown and Larkham set his back division in motion to exploit the overlap.

Roff drew two defenders, handed back to Larkham and the ball was spun out through Rathbone to Tuqiri and the former rugby league winger scored his sixth Test try just two days after confirming he had rejected overtures of a return to the 13-man code.

Parks reduced the arrears with his fifth penalty before the tensions erupted after a shoulder charge from Scott Murray. Roff struck the resultant penalty extended Australias lead out to 21-15.

There was very little Scotland could do to relieve the pressure and when Southwells attempted clearance was charged down, the Wallabies capitalised.

Roff, in at scrum-half, spun the ball out wide and Sean Lamont, left with two men to cover, could not close down Tuqiri in time and Australia struck the body blow that finally killed off Scotlands hopes.

Southwell made another stunning tackle, this time to bundle Sailor into touch, but Australia were then handed a soft final try. Winger Simon Webster attempted a neat chip over Sailor as he broke clear of the Scotland 22 but the former rugby league winger plucked the ball out of the air and sauntered in to complete a hard-fought victory for Australia.