Australia Under-20s 58 - 13 Scotland Under-20s : Australia pack too much power for Scots

SCOTLAND have only a couple of days to regroup for their next match against South Africa after being crushed by No 4 seeds Australia in their opening World Under-20 Championship Pool C game at the Estadio CA Colon in Santa Fe, Argentina.

It will be a difficult challenge for the young Scots, who were exposed to a class of rugby that represented new heights for them. "Too many of our players had never experienced this tempo of game," said coach Eamon John. "Australia had much better players and a much better team. They played at a faster pace and generated huge momentum at the breakdown."

Scotland were up against a massive Australia front five with weight in the front row and height and athleticism at lock.

"They had big islander props. Australia pick the best of the Tongans who then thrive on specialised conditioning courses," John added.

Fortunately Scotland finished the match without any real injury problems. Alex Dunbar was replaced at half-time after suffering a rib injury but at this stage it is not thought to be serious. There is hope, too, that lock Grant Gilchrist, who was ruled out of the game with a shin injury, will be fit for Wednesday.

Australia's dynamic game produced nine tries, including a hat-trick from winger Aidan Toua. The Junior Wallabies led 34-6 at half time, Scotland's points having come from two penalties by stand-off Duncan Weir.

Australia went further ahead with Toua's third try early in the second half but then Scotland showed a degree of resistance, holding on to ball and frustrating the Wallabies' immediate ambitions of adding further scores.

Scotland's ability to win and retain possession in this period of the game produced their only try, from good lineout work, a concerted drive by the forwards and then accurate passing along the backline to create space for Currie winger Dougie Fife, Weir adding the conversion goal.

Just as it seemed the Scots might be staging a fightback, they turned over ball, allowing the Junior Wallabies to score at the other end.

Scorers. Australia Under-20: Tries: Toua 3, Morahan, Coleman, Schatz, Falingaa, Jeloudev, Jones. Cons: Toomua 5. Pen: Toomua. Scotland Under-20: Try: Fife. Con: Weir. Pens: Weir 2

Scotland Under-20:

T Brown (Edinburgh Accies); O Grove (Worcester Warriors), M Tait (Newcastle Falcons), A Dunbar (Glasgow), D Fife (Currie); D Weir (Glasgow), A Black (Leeds Carnegie); N Little (Hawick), A Walker (Currie), G Hunter (Glasgow Hawks), R McAlpine (West of Scotland), R Harley (West of Scotland), M Maltman (Heriot's), D Denton (Edinburgh Accies), S McInally (Watsonians, capt). Subs used: A Fedorciow (Bath), A Kent (London Scottish), C Stidston-Nott (London Scottish), M Fedo (Watsonians), R Weir (Loughborough University), M Scott (Currie), C MacBirnie (Moseley).