John Connollys side, defeated by Ireland last Sunday and generally unimpressive against Wales and Italy, ran in five tries as they won the Bank of Scotland Corporate Autumn Test with relative ease.

Frank Haddens men got off to the perfect start when Simon Webster crossed for an early try and, with five points from Chris Patersons boot, Scotland claimed an encouraging 10-0 lead.

But a brace of tries for Mark Gerrard and one each for Stephen Larkham, Stephen Moore and Chris Latham saw the Wallabies extend their winning run over Scotland, who last defeated Australia in 1982 in Brisbane.

Sean Lamont added another try for the home side but it was not enough to preserve Scotlands proud unbeaten record in Edinburgh this year and send Haddens side into the 2007 Six Nations on the back of a victory over a southern hemisphere giant.

Hadden was forced to make a late change to his line-up when, following legal advice and guidance from the International Rugby Board, the Scottish Rugby Union decided to withdraw Nathan Hines from Scotlands side.

With confusion still surrounding the legal implications of the complaint made by Stade Francais against the Perpignan lock for foul play following a match at the start of the month, the SRU omitted Hines from the squad.

Despite the reorganisation owing to Hines absence, which saw Alastair Kellock promoted to the starting line-up and James Hamilton drafted on to the bench, Scotland began in lively fashion.

Webster twice wriggled free of the first tackle and on the second occasion he lured Australia into an infringement at the breakdown which Paterson capitalised on by slotting home the penalty.

Haddens side increased their lead further in the seventh minute when  after Australia failed to defuse Dan Parks fine up and under - Webster left three Wallabies in his wake to cross for his seventh international try.

Paterson converted to move Scotland into a 10-0 lead but Webster was forced to leave the field a minute later through an injury picked up in winning the penalty which had put Scotland ahead.

Hugo Southwell replaced his Edinburgh team-mate on the wing before Stirling Mortlock reduced the arrears with a simple penalty after 12 minutes.

The Wallabies were now dominating the contact areas and man of the match Larkham scored when he brushed off the challenge of Marcus Di Rollo. Mortlock converted to level the scores.

Referee Donal Courtney had penalised Scotland with several close calls in the opening 20 minutes and he began the second quarter in the same fashion, awarding a penalty in front of the posts for a high tackle on Matt Giteau which Mortlock made no mistake with.

The Wallabies skipper increased his sides lead to six points five minutes before the break after Courtney again found fault with the Scottish front row at another scrum.

A half break from replacement Southwell was all Scotland could offer in reply going into the interval.

The former world champions increased their lead to a more comfortable 11 points five minutes after the break when Gerrard dived over in the corner after Australia had enjoyed multiple phases of possession.

Mortlock converted to leave Scotland trailing 23-10 and moments later Hadden freshened up a front row which had been labouring when he replaced Gavin Kerr with Allan Jacobsen.

Brumbies winger Gerrard grabbed his second try of the afternoon in the 51st minute after a classic break from Larkham. Mortlock converted to put the game firmly in Australian hands.

A glimmer of hope was provided three minutes later, though, when a slip from star winger Lote Tuqiri allowed Sean Lamont to amble over for his sixth international try and reduce the deficit to 30-15 with 20 minutes remaining.

Another boost for the home side was provided in the 66th minute when Wallabies lock Alister Campbell was sin-binned for coming in at the side.

Scotland enjoyed plenty of possession in the moments after the Brumbies forwards card but the Australia defence was brave and well-organised.

Indeed, the Wallabies mounted a breakaway attack of their own, orchestrated again by the mercurial Larkham and eventually finished under the posts by hooker Moore.

Latham then breezed through weak Scottish defence with little over a minute left to round off the Wallabies most impressive outing of their Autumn tour and leave Scotland still searching for another victory over Australia.