By Colin Moffat
Paterson is yet to miss a kick in the tournament
Scotland (12) 18
Pens: Paterson 6 Paterson 6 Italy (10) 16
Tries: Troncon
Cons: Bortolussi
Pens: Bortolussi 3
Scotland edged into the quarter-finals of the World Cup after a tense win over Italy in rain-lashed St Etienne.
Once again Scotland had the unerring kicking of Chris Paterson to thank, with the winger knocking over six penalties from six attempts.
Italy skipper Alessandro Troncon bundled over for a first half try and David Bortolussi kept Italy in touch.
Neither side showed much in the way of attacking ambition but the Scots showed superior discipline to progress.
In the last eight Scotland will play the winners of Pool D, who are likely to be either Argentina or France.
Scotland made a bright start with Paterson confidently clipping over two penalties inside the first five minutes.
And, when Mauro Bergamasco was sin-binned for a cynical challenge on Simon Taylor, Scotland looked ready to seize the initiative and build on their early lead.
However, the Italians recovered from a jittery opening to come roaring back and a huge up-and-under from Ramiro Pez resulted in a bruising game's only try.
Mirco Bergamasco flattened the referee as he followed up and appeared to take Rory Lamont out before the dropping ball had reached the Scot.
From the resulting ruck, Troncon burst over from close range to put Italy into the lead.
Bortolussi landed the conversion before stretching the advantage with a long range penalty.
Mirco Bergamasco should have been the second Italian to have a yellow card but the officials somehow missed a blatant trip on Dan Parks.
There was a further blow for Scotland when influential full-back Rory Lamont had to be replaced by Hugo Southwell, following a bone-shuddering collision with Andrea Masi.
But the dependable Paterson slotted two more penalties to give Scotland a narrow lead at the interval.
After the break Bortolussi was inches short with a long range penalty and Paterson tucked over a close range effort after a dangerous Scottish break.
The Gloucester signing made it six from six as Italian indiscipline gifted the Scots another cheap three points.
Nathan Hines was then sin-binned for a high tackle after a slick passing move from Italy, who were showing marginally more imagination with the ball in attack.
Bortolussi kicked the penalty and the impressive fullback narrowed the gap to two points as Italy enjoyed their man advantage.
Scotland had a rare glimpse of the try-line when a Pez clearance kick was charged down but the bouncing ball would not fall the way of Frank Hadden's side.
Scottish nerves were frayed when Italy won a 75th minute penalty but Bortolussi was again just out of luck from a long way out.
Scotland: R Lamont; S Lamont, Webster, Dewey, Paterson; Parks, Blair; Kerr, Ford, Murray, Hines, Hamilton, White (capt), Hogg, Taylor.
Replacements: Lawson, Smith, MacLeod, Brown, Cusiter, Henderson, Southwell.
Italy Bortolussi; Robertson, Canale, Mirco Bergamasco, Masi; Pez, Troncon (capt); Perugini, Festuccia, Castrogiovanni, Dellape, Del Fava, Sole, Mauro Bergamasco, Parisse.
Replacements: Ongaro, Lo Cicero, Bernabo, Ghiraldini, Griffen, De Marigny, Galon.
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In the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Fiji and Scotland secured qualification to the knockout stage of the tournament with victories over Wales and Italy respectively. Elsewhere New Zealand defeated  Romania and Australia defeated Canada. Both New Zealand and Australia had already qualified for the following round.

In Pool B, Fiji defeated Wales 38-34 in a dramatic encounter. Stephen Jones opened the scoring for Wales with a penalty, but Fiji raced to a 25-3 lead with tries from Akapusi Qera, Vilimoni Delasau and Kele Leawere and two penalties from Nicky Little. Wales fought back and took the lead after 51 minutes after Alix Popham ,Shane Williams, Gareth Thomas  and Mark Jones each scored.

Nicky Little regained the lead for Fiji with two penalties, but Wales appeared to be heading to victory when Martyn Williams scored with seven minutes remaining. However Graham Dewes scored late on to snatch an extraordinary victory for Fiji to finish second in Pool B. Wales are knocked out of the tournament, but qualify automatically for the 2011 World Cup by finishing third in Pool B.

Australia, the winners of Pool B, beat Canada 37-6. An early penalty from Julian Huxley and tries from Al Baxter and Adam Freier gave Australia a 13-0 lead at half-time. James Pritchard scored two penalties for Canada, but  George Smith, Drew Mitchell (2) Chris Latham all scored tries to complete Australia's victory.

Fiji face South Africa in the quarter finals while Australia will play defending champions England in a repeat of the 2003 final.

Scotland defeated Italy 18-16 to secure their place in the quarter finals. Chris Paterson scored all of Scotland's points by kicking six penalties. Italy were leading twenty minutes into the match after Alessandro Troncon scored a try and David Bortolussi added a penalty. Chris Paterson ensured Scotland's passage into the next round by kicking six penalties out of six. David Bortolussi closed the gap to two points with two penalties, but Scotland held on to finish second in Pool C. Italy finish third and qualify for the next World Cup despite being eliminated from the tournament.

Pool C winners New Zealand scored thirteen tries as they comfortably defeated Romania 85-8. Marius Tincu scored Romania's only try of the match, while Florin Vlaicu added a penalty. Joe Rokocoko scored a hat-trick of tries for the All Blacks, and Sitiveni Sivivatu and Isaia Toeava scored two each.