Samoa v Scotland: Teams, Build Up & Live Match Thread

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

First topic message reminder :

Content from Kick and Chase

Can Scotland do the unthinkable and make it 3 from 3 down under? Here's when to watch:

Saturday 23rd June, 2012 15:30 WST, 03:30 BST
Friday 22nd June 22:30 EST ()
Apia Park, Apia - capital of Samoa
Capacity: 15,000
Current forecast for Saturday: Sunny, 22C/72F, 20mph winds

Andy Robinson keeps the 15 largely unchanged, with one forced and two unforced changes. Richie Vernon comes in for John Barclay who has left to arrange his wedding. Chris Cusiter has been 'rewarded' by Andy Robinson with his first start on tour at the expense of Mike Blair, who is likely to now start on the bench. Sean Lamont comes in to directly replace Max Evans at 14, preferred for his physicality.

**Scotland bench and Samoa squad to be updated here later in the week.**

Scotland Squad:

1 Ryan Grant (Glasgow Warriors) 2 caps
2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby) 60 caps, 2 tries, 10 points CAPTAIN
3 Euan Murray (Newcastle Falcons) 46 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
4 Richie Gray (Sale Sharks) 23 caps, 1 try, 5 points
5 Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors) 43 caps, 1 try, 5 points
6 Alasdair Strokosch (Perpignan) 27 caps, 1 try, 5 points
7 Ross Rennie (Edinburgh Rugby) 18 caps
8 Richie Vernon (Sale Sharks) 19 caps

9 Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors) 61 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
10 Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby) 9 caps, 2 tries, 6 conversions, 14 penalties, 64 points
11 Tim Visser (Edinburgh Rugby) 1 cap, 2 tries, 10 points
12 Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby) 3 caps
13 Nick De Luca (Edinburgh Rugby) 35 caps, 1 try, 5 points
14 Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors) 67 caps, 8 tries, 40 points
15 Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors) 6 caps, 1 try, 5 points

Replacements : S Lawson (London Irish), G Cross (Edinburgh), T Ryder (Glasgow), R Harley (Glasgow), M Blair (Brive), D Weir (Glasgow), M Evans (Castres)

Samoa team 15 Fa’atoina Autagavai (Vailoa); 14 Paul Perez (Vaimoso), 13 Fautua Otto (Bristol), 12 Paul Williams (Stade Francais), 11 David Lemi (Glasgow Warriors) CAPTAIN; 10 Tusi Pisi (Hurricanes), 9 Kahn Fotuali’I (Ospreys);

1 Sakaria Taulafo (Wasps), 2 Ti’i Paulo (Clermont-Auvergne), 3 Census Johnston (Stade Toulouse), 4 Fa’atiga Lemalu (Papatoetoe), 5 Daniel Crichton (Counties Manukau), 6 Ben Masoe (Papatoetoe), 7 Maurie Fa’asavalu (Harlequins), 8 Kane Thompson (Waikato Chiefs)

Subs: 16 Wayne Ole Avei (Bordeaux Begles), 17 Logovi’i Mulipola (Leicester Tigers), 18 Joe Tekori (Castres), 19 Afa Aioni (Marist), 20 Jeremy Sua (Tasman), 21 Ki Anufe (Marist), 22 Lolo Lui (Moata’a)

Who's up for this one, then?!

[Pal Joey]

RDW - I've added the poll... as per the other matches. Hope that's OK with you.

[RDW]

Fine by me!

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Where did you hear that??

It's mentioned in the comments on the scottishrugbyblog.co.uk discussion, hopefully true, altho it does point out that the broadband speed may not be quite up to the task

[KickAndChase]

Nice that the majority think we're winning this one, and nobody thinks we'll get thumped

[RDW]

Just seen on Twitter that de Luca is an injury doubt having pulled up with a thigh strain on the captain's run. Ansbro to replace him if he can't play!

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

That's a blow for NdL, but hopefully with Ansbro and Dunbar in the party we've got some depth at 13 that can come in and do a job.

Quite a bit in the Hootsmon and the Herald today about the match (which I'll post separately), but as yet no joy on the broadcasting front. it does sound like efforts are being made tho.

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

From today's Hootsmon:

Scotland v Samoa: South Sea pride at stake in Test

By IAIN MORRISON

Despite every appearance of being some sort of paradise on earth, Samoa has one of the highest suicide rates in the world.

At the risk of being trite about such a complex issue, a partial explanation offered by one Samoan is that kids who are reprimanded by parents in public find it impossible to live with the shame.

The point is that Samoans are an extraordinary proud people – although pride barely seems adequate enough a word to cover it.

Their rugby team doesn’t get the opportunity to play many tier one nations and hardly ever at home.

But then “home” is a moveable feast because there are considerably more Samoans around the globe than there are in Samoa.

Traditionally, canoes were the status symbols (think Range Rovers with better fuel consumption) but airline tickets have now taken their place.

Samoan rugby players are the modern equivalent of Jesuit missionaries, only rugby rather than religion (or possibly rugby and religion) is their global message.

Everyone knows the immense impact Samoans have had on the All Blacks but such is their reach that they have even penetrated the rugby nation least similar to theirs in terms of culture, climate and geography – Scotland.

Lome Fa’atau, Justin Va’a and, more recently, current Samoan skipper David Lemi have all turned out for Glasgow.

Opeta Palepoi and Semo Sititi played for the Borders, with the former still doing a shift for Gala and having named his Scottish-born son “Wallace”. Now there’s a project signing for the SRU! Meanwhile, a former Samoan great in the shape of Pat Lam coached the Scottish forwards before and during the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

The time difference between Scotland and Samoa is 12 hours, the temperature difference is substantially more than 12 degrees and yet Samoans have made their mark on Scottish rugby.

Scotland’s visit is helping return the favour but securing a victory will not be easy. Samoa are on a high after winning the Pacific Nations Cup in Tokyo with three wins out of three. The islanders had to fight back from 16-0 down against Japan last Sunday but that is what Samoa do best – fight back. They are never happier than when up against the odds and they will have one more thing spurring them on come the weekend.

“This month has been a memorable month because this has been the 50th anniversary of our independence,” said skipper Lemi. The island’s actual birthday was back on 1st June and UB40 played a gig at the Apia Stadium.

Lemi added: “For us we just play our part as a rugby team and, if the result comes our way, it’s just a bonus. This is a big, big test for us. It’s a big step up from the Pacific Nations Cup. This is an opportunity to play against a tier one nation.

“Scotland is a good side, we are lucky to have a side like Scotland come all this way to play against our people, so it’s a good opportunity for us to compete against a tier one nation.”

Lemi insists that he enjoyed his time at Glasgow, the six months feeling more like two years so warm was the welcome he received. The little winger knows a good percentage of the Scotland squad but insists that the inside information won’t help Samoa much. Players and systems change in the heat of a Test match so knowing what Chris Cusiter might do on a wet night at Firhill will have little bearing on the Test in Apia.

More important, perhaps, is the fact that both teams are in a rebuilding stage after the World Cup although it’s worth noting, Samoa are still four places above the visitors in the IRB rankings.

Scotland have a new backs coach and a new-look back line for him to play with. Samoa jettisoned any number of big names after the World Cup and this squad, unusually, boasts nine domestic players alongside the usual New Zealand-based stars.

“The ranking is there but we can’t underestimate the Scots,” says Lemi. “They are a good side, good professional rugby players compared to our team where some of us are professional and some of us are amateur in Samoa.

“It is unusual (having so many domestic players). We’ve brought in some new players to develop, just in the last couple of years. We have a new management team and new players, so it’s a learning process for us, but the Test is a huge opportunity for us. Tier one games only come maybe once or twice a year.”

The last time these two teams met two years ago in Aberdeen anyone standing pitch-side was roped in to help shovel the snow off Pittodrie as the game went ahead in freezing conditions. Scotland won by just three points and one man has not forgotten the experience.

“Before I left Glasgow the boys asked me what was the weather like in Samoa in June and I said it’s the opposite of what you did to us in Aberdeen!”

The opposite result on Saturday would suit the proud skipper just fine.

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Plenty of respect being shown by Fordy for the oppo in today's Hootsmon:

Samoa are big so we must be smart, says captain Ross Ford - Scotland captain Ross Ford expects a tough encounter against Samoa

SCOTLAND captain Ross Ford has challenged his side to show the technical skill to nullify Samoa’s physical threat as they bid to complete a Southern Hemisphere clean sweep at Apia Park early tomorrow morning.

Scotland are bidding to round off a successful tour which has brought victories over Australia and Fiji, with a third win. The Samoans will pose a significant challenge, though, as they have a host of Europe-based big names and boast a huge front five which is designed to win the set-piece battle to allow them to play an organised and controlled game.

“They are big, so that means that we have got to be technically smart,” said Ford, who made no secret of his irritation at the way his side surrendered possession in the third quarter against Fiji last Saturday. “We are not going to stick any more meat on over the next couple of days, so we have to be quick and we have to be technically very good to compete against them.

“It is going to be a tough game. Samoa have got a lot of strengths, a lot of the European players are back. Census Johnston plays for Toulouse and is a good scrummager, the Clermont boy [Tii Paulo] is hooker and the Wasps boy [Sakaria Taulafo] is at loosehead, they are big boys and good scrummagers, so we will have to be right up there to compete against them.

“They are a lot more structured than Fiji but still have the ability to break defences with their big men.

“They will be very physical, so it will be a tough challenge but it is one that the boys are looking forward to. A win would round the tour off well.”

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Lastly from the Hootsmon:

Scotland v Samoa: Renewed fighting spirit key to battle-hardened Scots

By IAIN MORRISON

JUST a few short weeks ago, pundits were wondering out loud exactly where Scotland’s next win was coming from. Two victories later and everyone expects this squad to beat Samoa at home with something to spare, despite the sweltering conditions and the fact that the island nation is ranked above Scotland on the IRB ladder.


There is a lack of reason, perspective and balance – we have become Welsh overnight.

On the positive side of the ledger, the Scottish players have returned to wherever it was they deposited their fighting spirit around about half-time in the Six Nations match against Ireland and they have made a sizeable withdrawal.

The team was at its cussed best in the win over the Wallabies and it needed to be. Without that victory to bolster their souls, Andy Robinson’s men might very well have become unstuck against Fiji. Instead they hit back to record a respectable win. Saturday will be a lot harder.

Scotland’s lack of depth continues to be an issue because there remain nagging doubts over the fitness of Euan Murray and Al Strokosch, although both men will take their places in the starting XV. These two have been key figures in the last two wins and Scotland need their aggression to counter the same stuff that will be coming their way in spades.

The Scots are a little lightweight in the backline, although Chris Cusiter and Sean Lamont’s inclusion at scrum-half and right wing at the expense of Mike Blair and Max Evans goes some way to redressing the balance.

Samoa will still throw bodies at the slighter backs because, the longer the match against Fiji progressed, the more the Scots fell off their tackles. Indeed Samoa will watch the second half from Lautoka and rub their hands with glee because Scotland couldn’t hold on to the ball for long enough to get their breath. If that happens on Saturday they will be run ragged.

In short, Robinson’s men need to bring their first half against Fiji for the full 80 minutes. The scrum needs to gain the whip hand, although that is no given with the size of the Samoan pack and the injuries (shoulder and knee) to Robinson’s first choice props (Ryan Grant and Murray).

The lineout needs to dominate the opposition throw and, with Richie Vernon adding further expertise, it should.

Finally, the restarts need to be better. These have been the bane of Robinson’s existence as Scotland coach. Argentina scored from one lost restart in the World Cup, as did England, and Fiji won their own restart last weekend.

If training is anything to go by, Samoa will have a field day here. Running against the substitutes, the Test XV collected cleanly perhaps one in five kick-offs that the reserves sent their way.

But Scotland have advantages of their own, if only they can exploit them. The inclusion of a specialist ball-carrying number eight in Vernon, who will take the game to the Samoans, can only be a good thing and his blistering pace may yet catch the islanders on the hop on what is sure to be a hard track. It’s a big opportunity for the Sale Shark, who must be smarting after being overlooked for the first two Tests.

The Scots are battle hardened after two tough Tests and they are playing against at least some opponents who are unaccustomed to the intensity of a tier one Test. The Scots should be well organised in defence and as acclimatised to the scorching heat as they ever will be.

The tourists enjoy a huge height advantage, not just at the sidelines but also on the flanks, with Sean Lamont towering over David Lemi. Greig Laidlaw is also better off the tee than anyone on the Samoan side.

Nick De Luca looks a different player from the careworn ghost which haunted the Six Nations squad and any team boasting Tim Visser in their ranks can score tries.

Chris Cusiter will enjoy a lively battle with Kahn Fotoali’i at scrum-half and, while they shouldn’t rely upon this, there is one more aspect in Scotland’s favour – the self-destructive streak that is never far from the surface of Samoan rugby.

It cost them in the World Cup when they were threatening a famous win over South Africa and ill-discipline could come back to haunt them against Scotland.

Against that, the Scots have their own Achilles heel. Might the tourists, even subconsciously, think that they have already done better than many expected ahead of this tour and lift their foot fractionally off the pedal?

“No. You always want to be the first to do things,” says captain Ross Ford with a nod to becoming the first Scotland squad to return home from the Southern Hemisphere with three Test wins.

“Johno (backs coach Scott Johnston) came up with an expression: ‘No rocks under the beach towels’. He meant that when we go away from the tour we’ve to have nothing irking us, nothing at the back of our minds bugging us while we’re on our holidays.

“We’re still here to do a job, we’re still here working and that continues until the final whistle.”

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

EF-S has been having a wee go in the Herald:

Tourists lauded by outspoken Samoan

THE Samoan labelled the Mario Balotelli of world rugby last night applauded Scotland as champions simply for being prepared to travel to his homeland.

Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu says Andy Robinson's troops have gone out on a limb by "daring" to visit the South Pacific and he criticised the giants of the Test scene for being "too scared" to do the same.

Sapolu hit the headlines when he received a six-month ban from the International Rugby Board for his outspoken tweets during last year's World Cup in New Zealand and he underlined his dismay at being left out of the Samoa squad to face Scotland in Apia tomorrow for "political reasons".

However, the 31-year-old centre, who boasts about his Scottish bloodline, said: "I have great respect for Scotland for having the guts to play in the Pacific region. So much is said at every World Cup about developing the game in the less fashionable parts of the globe, but until we see all the top teams coming to Samoa, Fiji and Tonga, it is all hot air and rubbish.

"What are teams scared of: losing or witnessing poverty? Touring in any sport is about experience, seeing another world, how people live and the lengths people go to to play rugby.

"I have been left out of this match for political reasons and that is sad, but on the other hand I am so happy Scotland are in Samoa. Not only is it great for rugby, it is a massive thing for the public – especially the youngsters – to see a real European professional team in the flesh. Seeing them in reality gives the kids a dream to aspire to and shows them what they must do to make it happen.

"I could go on and on about the wonderful thing Scotland have done, but what about the All Blacks and the Wallabies? They are only three hours away and they have never come here, yet they are happy to take our best players when they can.

"My great grandad was a Scot and I am damned proud of that. I am more proud than ever because Scotland have shown the way. They are the trailblazers in terms of humanity and rugby.

"The sport will grow because of what Scotland have done and the more teams that have their heart and vision, the greater world rugby will be. They have shown the rest of the world how to do it and not made excuses not to."

Sapolu landed in trouble at the World Cup when, through Twitter, he accused Welsh referee Nigel Owens of being biased in Samoa's narrow defeat to South Africa. He also alleged that tournament organisers had treated the Samoans like slaves and apartheid victims by ordering them to play two crucial matches within four days of each other.

His six-month ban was suspended, but he was commanded to carry out 100 hours of rugby-orientated community work in Samoa and pass an official refereeing test. His exploits earned him the tag rugby's Mario Balotelli, after the Manchester City hothead.

[Biltong]

This will be a tough ending for scotland on their tour. Samoa will give them more physicality than they have had on this tour prior.

They have the players that will stand up and take these boys on physically, as long as they focs on their plan, they should pull this through.

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Also in the Herald:

Robinson's men are up against a team of winners in their final tour match

by Stuart McAllister

WHEN the Scots talk about taking on Samoa in Apia in the early hours of tomorrow morning as being a huge challenge, they are not just talking metaphorically.

Even when you take into account that the Scots have the likes of Richie Gray in their line-up, the Samoan pack is just that: huge.

There is no getting away from the size of the challenge, or the rewards on offer if Scotland can carry it off. No Scotland team has embarked on a three-match summer tour and come back with a clean sweep, and achieving that feat for the first time will be the lure for the team when they run out on to Apia Park in the early hours of tomorrow morning.


In contrast with Fiji, who have made a conscious decision to pledge their immediate future to locally based players, Samoa are a team of professionals, many of them at the leading clubs in Europe and New Zealand, and they have the hardened, tough edge that that brings. If Scotland have the same kind of wobble that they did in Fiji, then Samoa have the experience and the ability to exploit it in a way that their Pacific neighbours did not.

The team named yesterday to face Scotland has only five players who are not at leading clubs. It is not just they are playing top-flight rugby, mainly in Europe, but they are playing for clubs that win things: Census Johnston the prop is at Toulouse, the French champions; Maurie Faasavalu, the flanker is at Harlequins, the English champions; Kahn Fotualii, the scrum half is at the Ospreys, the RaboDirect Pro12 champions. While the Scottish clubs have had decent seasons, there is not a single player in the squad who has actually won anything.

On top of that, Kane Thompson, the No.8, is helping the Chiefs, the Hamilton-based franchise in New Zealand, to a leading spot in this season's Super Rugby competition. There are few obvious weaknesses in the line-up.

"It is going to be a tough game," acknowledged Ross Ford, the Scotland captain. "Samoa have got a lot of strengths, a lot of the European players are back and that makes it a strong squad. They are a lot more structured than Fiji but still have the ability to break defences with their big men and good steppers. They will be very physical so it will be a tough challenge, but one that the boys are looking forward to. A win would round the tour off well."

It is clear that one place the Samoans will fancy their chances is in the scrum where their mighty props will be at a considerable weight advantage. Ford is not worried: "They are big so that means that we have got to be technically smart" he said.

"We are not going to stick any more meat on over the next couple of days so we have got to be quick and we have got to be technically very good on the day to compete against them."

For Ford and his colleagues, the task is simple on paper. Get parity or better up front and then hang on to the ball long enough to make the pressure pay. They probably have a marginal advantage in the goalkicking department where Greig Laidlaw is more reliable than either Tusi Pisi or Paul Williams, the two likely kickers in the Samoa line-up, and have dangerous strike runners in the likes of Sean Lamont and Tim Visser, but if they hand over the ball with the alacrity they did in Fiji, they will be punished.

"We gave the ball away too cheaply, so this week we have got to be really switched on and keep a hold of the ball a lot longer to pile up a lot more pressure," said Ford, acknowledging that it was not just the handling but the breakdown work that was at fault.

Two years ago, when Samoa should have escaped with a draw in freezing conditions in Aberdeen, it was another sloppy performance at the breakdown that caused most of Scotland's problems and helped catapult Fotualii from anonymity to being recognised as one of the world's top scrum-halves. Samoa know their big back row can get to Scotland in that department and will be looking to exploit their power there again.

The other unknown is the effect of the tropical weather. As the locals have been pointing out in Apia this week, the downside of having their players based in Europe is that they lose their acclimatisation to the tropical temperatures in Samoa, making it a much more even contest to see who can stand the heat, with Samoa having arrived in the country after playing in Japan two days after Scotland had arrived from Fiji.

"It is very important that we win and round off the tour on a high," added Ford. Certainly the mood in the camp could not be more different from the one at the end of the Six Nations.

All they have to do is keep it that way.

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

This will be a tough ending for scotland on their tour. Samoa will give them more physicality than they have had on this tour prior.

They have the players that will stand up and take these boys on physically, as long as they focus on their plan, they should pull this through.

Biltong, think you've got it spot on right there - that is the key, focus on the plan and deliver on it

[Biltong]

Yes, if you look at our match in the RWC against Samoa, they focused on a lot of niggly stuff, trying their best to get under our skin, sadly we lost Frans Steyn in that game which cost us dearly in the QF.

So Scotland must not fall for that.

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

And I think we saw against Fiji last weekend that it was all too easy for Scotland to get distracted/pushed off their game plan - understandably tho, who wouldn't want to join in the fun and throw the ball around 7s-style!

[RDW]

Just thought I'd give you advanced warning guys, I'm in a raging bad mood this morning! Some bersteward stole my jacket at the gym so had to walk to the work in the pishing rain. Not happy!

[Biltong]

Just thought I'd give you advanced warning guys, I'm in a raging bad mood this morning! Some bersteward stole my jacket at the gym so had to walk to the work in the pishing rain. Not happy!

Were your biceps pumped when you walked out with you "make me look strong vest"?

[RDW]

Luckily they only stole my jacket, not my shirt and trousers! That would have been a bit awkward at work...

[Biltong]

Short sleeve or long sleeve?

IN OTHER WORDS. Did you show off your pumped biceps?

[RDW]

You just doing this so you can show off your nice smillies??

[Biltong]

You just doing this so you can show off your nice smillies??

[RDW]

They are pretty good to be fair....

[Biltong]

Thank you kind sir.

[RDW]

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

This sounds vaguely positive (from the SRU offy site):

BROADCASTING IN SAMOA: UPDATE

Thursday, 21 June 2012

Scottish Rugby staff have carried out tests at the ground today in Samoa and should be able to live Tweet from the Samoa v Scotland match via our Twitter account @scotlandteam. The match kicks-off at 3.30am BST tomorrow (Saturday 23 June).

With no UK broadcaster having acquired the rights to the fixture Scottish Rugby is working closely with both the Samoa Broadcasting Corporation Limited and the Samoa Tourism Authority to see if any additional live pictures might be available for supporters.


Samoa Tourism (via their Facebook page) hope to provide live streaming of the game, but Scottish Rugby cannot guarantee the quality or stability of the feed.

Discussions and testing will take most of today UK time so please check our website www.scottishrugby.org around 21.30 hours UK time tonight (Friday 22 June) for any updates.

The Samoa Broadcasting Corporation Limited will have cameras at the match but there is no live coverage on their networks in Samoa.

We are also working to ensure highlights footage of the game is available as soon as possible after the match via scottishrugby.org again we are reliant on the Samoan broadcasters providing the footage quickly post match.

We would like to thank the Samoan Broadcast Company and the Samoan Tourism Authority for their efforts to assist Scotland fans to see this important match.

[RDW]

Will be a bit of a dilema - is it worth getting up at 3.30am for a dodgy feed that might not work out?

Slightly more positive news though.

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Will be a bit of a dilema - is it worth getting up at 3.30am for a dodgy feed that might not work out?
Slightly more positive news though.

Realistically, can't be any more "challenging" than the feed for the Fiji game!

[R!skysports]

Well on the Fiji game I loved how our strip kept changing to green and Richie Gray and Kellock kept changing names

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

36-21 vs Samoa in the baby game, midway thru the 2nd half. A brace of tries so far for Farndale which makes him top try-scorer of the tournament so far

[RDW]

Fantastic!

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Tommy Allan of Western Province fame is on for Buchan in the centres and romps in (with Leonard converting) to bring the scores to 43-12

It's been a shame that we couldn't convert some of our earlier matches - we took both France and Argentina v close

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Tommaso Allan in again with another Leonard conversion to bring up the half century for Scotland

Tell you what, I'll settle for this scoreline tomorrow!

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Oops, handbags time, two swinging punches from Samoa's blindside, and that'll be the red. Another try too, 57-21

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Samoa pull one back with a nice move from their own 22, but Leonard gets the final say with a well-taken try of his own: 62-28

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

From planetrugby.co.uk:

Scotland sweating over De Luca

Scotland centre Nick De Luca's participation on Saturday's Test against Samoa is in doubt after he pulled up with a strained thigh on Friday.

The Edinburgh centre, who had an outstanding game in Fiji, became a late worry when he failed to finish the captain's run before the game at Apia Park.

"There is a slight injury concern about him," said head coach Andy Robinson after the session.

"He has a slightly strained thigh but we will wait until morning before making a decision. Joe Ansbro will come in if he is not fit."

Better news for the Scots was that Al Strokosch and Euan Murray both finished the session without problems after struggling during the week with calf muscle and knee injuries respectively

Robinson said he was happy with his squad as they seek a clean sweep on their southern hemisphere tour.

"I was pleased, I have seen the leadership really improve on the tour," he said.

"There is clarity in the way they are trying to play and a great attitude, which is what you want going into a Test match.

"I just go Test by Test and I look forward to this one as much as I have looked forward to every one of this year.

"The key for us is to get ourselves into a winning position and then finish the team off. In the World Cup we got into winning positions and did not do that; at the start of the Six Nations, it was the same.

"This trip we have got ourselves into winning positions and have been able to finish the teams off. We need to do that again."

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

U20 scorers:

Scorers Player name Type Time Half

Harry Leonard (C) Miss Pen 03:00 1
Finn Russell Try 07:00 1
Harry Leonard (C) Con 08:00 1
Harry Leonard (C) Pen 09:00 1
Robin Hislop Try 12:00 1
Harry Leonard (C) Con 13:00 1
Tom Steven Try 22:00 1
Harry Leonard (C) Miss Con 23:00 1
Jamie Farndale Try 29:00 1
Harry Leonard (C) Con 30:00 1
Jamie Farndale Try 07:00 2
Harry Leonard (C) Con 08:00 2
Tommy Allan Try 18:00 2
Harry Leonard (C) Con 19:00 2
Tommy Allan Try 25:00 2
Harry Leonard (C) Con 26:00 2
Andrew Redmayne Try 33:00 2
Harry Leonard (C) Con 34:00 2
Harry Leonard (C) Try 40:00 2
Harry Leonard (C) Miss Con 41:00 2

[RDW]

TV is looking more promising - Samoa tourism are gonna try to put it on their facebook page live!

[rodders]

It would be a shame if there is no coverage of this as it has the makings of a really good game.

I can see Samoa possibly taking this one but it would be great for Scotland to finish of a very successful tour on a high.

Good luck to the Scots

[timhen]

Samoa Tourism is providing a stream at these 2 addresses:

https://www.facebook.com/SamoaTourismAuthority/app_208195102528120

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/manu-samoa-vs-scotland

[RDW]

Whose up then?? Stream is much better than ESPN!

[RDW]

Tempo is mental - luckily Samoa knocking on a lot though.

[RDW]

There's as many knock ons from both teams as the Australia game - not great.

I sense I'm talking to myself here so may stop!

[flyhalffactory]

There's as many knock ons from both teams as the Australia game - not great.

I sense I'm talking to myself here so may stop!

RDW
Morning mate............. cannae keep my eyes open

Superb run by Scott, and great support by Rennie!!!!!!!!!! What a try

Panache and Style COME ONE!!

[flyhalffactory]

This is a great stream.... clear as a bell

[RDW]

Morning!

Me and one other are on this thread

https://www.606v2.com/t31420-samoa-v-scotland-live-stream#1338141

[flyhalffactory]

Phew........... we are under immense pressure, Paul Williams (son of that great kiwi Bryan Williams) looking very sharp Matt Scott has his hands full with him, and Pisi very accurate with his boot

[flyhalffactory]

This is brutal by Samoa, Pisi running the show at the moment. Lets hope the heat doesnt sap our energy too much

[Alba gu brath]

All 3 of us on the same thread now, I think

[RDW]

Samoa set piece is strong - we really should be dominating the lineout with the players we've got!

[Alba gu brath]

Good steal by Ford, and then a poor knock on. We've got to settle down a bit

[Sponsored content]