Their best run came at the 1991 tournament when they defeated Japan, Ireland, Zimbabwe in the group stages before seeing off Samoa in the last eight.

The Auld Enemy, England, awaited them in the semi-final. It was always going to be a tense and tough encounter in front of the predominantly Scottish crowd at Edinburgh's Murrayfield.

WORLD CUP RECORD Played 19 - W:11 D:1 L:7 1987: Quarter-finals 1991: Fourth 1995: Quarter-finals 1999: Quarter-finals

Both defences were tested to the limit although the sides were also guilty of losing possession in attack, leaving the kickers to put points on the board.

England's Jon Webb and Gavin Hastings for Scotland made it 6-6 with about a quarter of the match remaining.

Arguably, the second most important incident in the match saw Hastings narrowly miss a 62nd minute penalty.

It proved to be a costly error. With the match seemingly heading into extra time, up popped England fly-half Rob Andrew who executed a brilliant drop-kick to break Scottish hearts.

Another tight game in the third/fourth match pitted the European side against New Zealand.

Another close encounter finally saw the All Blacks run out 13-6 winners.

Scotland have made the quarter-finals of the World Cup on the other three occasions, but New Zealand have been their opponents on all three occasions.

In 1987 Scotland lost 30-3 in Christchurch, while in 1995 they put up a strong fight before going down 48-30.

At the last World Cup, on their home ground of Murrayfield, they came unstuck again - losing 30-18.