St George Illawarra centre Euan Aitken has scored a try at the death to secure Scotland an 18-all draw with New Zealand in the Four Nations in Workington on Friday.
It’s the first time one of the so-called minnow nations has taken a point off one of the big three countries.
Scotland coach Steve McCormack spoke of his pride after the game, with his skipper Danny Brough needing pain-killing injections before and during the match to get through it after coming in with a heel injury.
“I’m as proud as anything,” McCormack said. “Not only that never-say-die attitude from our lads but just the manner in which we got that result.
“We were pretty busted after the England game. We’ve probably only had about 40 minutes training in the last seven days and people like Danny shouldn’t have even played in that game. You can’t under-estimate what these players have done.
“We’re also a bit disappointed that we didn’t win. I thought the players were sensational.”
The result means Australia are guaranteed a place in the final next week, while the Kiwis need a Kangaroos victory over England at the London Stadium on Sunday to join them.
New Zealand led for long periods and thought they had clinched victory when centre Gerard Beale scored two tries in three minutes, but Aitken’s try broke their hearts.
“Scotland played well,” said Kiwis coach David Kidwell. “They played to the conditions and we got away with the draw.
“They had more energy at times and a couple of penalties of the fifth tackle really hurt us.
“I’m really proud of the way the boys got back into the game with those two tries but Scotland really deserved their draw against us.”
New Zealand’s disappointment was compounded by injury to five-eighth Thomas Leuluai, who came off on 57 minutes clutching his face and was later diagnosed with a double fracture of his jaw.