Scotland struggle to subdue Samoa

Tourists give hosts plenty to think about

Scotland subdued a spirited Samoan side to record a gritty 18-11 victory at a sparsely-populated Murrayfield on Sunday.  The tourists' fabled defence stymied any hope of any Scottish creativity; England, who play Samoa at Twickenham on Saturday, would be advised to stock up on ice and bandages.

At the end of the match the Samoans trudged off, disappointments close to tears for the brave warriors from the Pacific.  They had not had enough ball to win but the effort they had put in had been enough for several victories.

At the end of it their captain Semi Sititi expressed their disappointment and their willingness to "put their bodies on the line for the blue jersey.  In the end our mistakes cost us the game."

Allister Hogg spoke about the physicality of the Samoans, and there were some jarring tackles, teeth-rattling, bone-rattling, bruising stuff.  At times some of the Scots seemed to be playing touch rugby, eager to get rid of the ball lest another blue shoulder thump into them.

The Scots certainly took hard knocks from the shoulders of the sturdy Samoans for whom tackling is a cultural achievement.  By half-time which came at 8-all the Scots must have been sore, and there was not even much of a crowd to ease and appreciate their pain.  Again Murrayfield was mainly empty.

The Scots mixed their game with mauls and spreading the ball wide.  Their mauls were strong but only one strong enough to score a try.  Their spreading the ball produced the try which won the match when the scores were locked at 11-all.

The Scots were better -- but not perfect for they lost their own twice -- at the line-outs and in the scrums but the Samoans won the turn-overs in the tackles as they drove in harder and lower.

The Samoans had three great wings at their disposal -- Lome Fa'atau, Alesana Tuilagi and Sailosi Tagicakibau but they hardly got the ball.  When Samoa did have the ball on the run they were intent to play the ball back inside rather than seek for chances for their wings while the Scots tried to get the ball to the Lamont brothers.

Samoa had a great start.  They made a penalty a line-out 10 metres from the Scottish line.  They mauled and then the ball came back to scrumhalf Garrick Cowley who chipped at the Scottish in-goal.

Chris Cusiter flew at the dropping ball and seemed to have the situation covered.  He caught the ball and immediately burly Alesana Tuilagi ripped the ball from the little scrumhalf's grasp and dropped to ground for the try.  The easy conversion was astray.

It took the Scots some time to get on even terms and when they did so it was the old sequence -- penalty -- line-out -- maul.  Over they went with Hogg in possession for a try that belonged to all.  The relatively easy conversion was wide.

There was an astonishing moment when Alesana Tuilagi counterattacked.  He burst through the Scots, planking Di Rollo on his back and chopped towards the posts.  He was leading the race for the ball when it hit the crossbar and bounced back into the field where the Scots saved.

When Sean Lamont was penalised at a tackle, Roger Warren goaled.  Warren and tanner Vili had an interesting afternoon, swapping fullback and flyhalf throughout though the Samoans were much better when Vili was at flyhalf.

Paterson made it 8-all with a penalty and then Samoa lost prodigal Iosefa Taina to the sin bin.  By then he had conceded three penalties at the tackle and there was still another to come till Paul Tupai replaced him -- and conceded a penalty at a tackle as if it were catching!

Alesana Tuilagi made an opportunity for himself when he intercepted a chip kick but Marcus di Rollo saved.

The Scots came close to the corner on their left twice in the second half but fits Rory Lamont and then Hog were tackled out by the zealous defence.  Rory Lamont was laid out in the tackle on him and Hugo Southwell took his place.

Eventually Paterson gave his side the lead with a penalty but with 12 minutes to go Warren, who was short with two long-range attempts, made it 11-all with 12 minutes to play.

Mike Blair, on for Cusiter, had a brilliant break down the right and it seemed that Southwell would score till he was dumped into touch.

The Scots at this stage were well on the attack.  Sean Lamont ran, weaving, beating men, strong.  Blair gave to Godman who gave to Di Rollo who scored far out.  Paterson's conversion meant that the Samoans needed a miracle to share the match as a try looked a remote possibility for the ardent Islanders.

They tried and tried, but in the end the match stopped in midfield.

Man of the Match:  Semo Sititi at No/8 for Samoa was all effort and courage and Tanner Vili did lots of clever and brave things.  Chris Paterson was a handful from fullback but our Man of the Match, just pipping Vili, is Sean Lamont.

Moment of the Match:  We have a choice of three -- Alesana's Tuilagi's try, Tanner Vili's thumping tackle on Godman as a symbol of all the thumping Samoan tackles and our Moment of the Match that thumping run, chip, chase and crossbar intervention when Alesana Tuilagi looked a possible scorer.

Villain of the match:  Nobody -- not even puzzled Iosefa Taina.

The scorers:

For Scotland:
Tries:  Hogg, Di Rollo
Cons:  Paterson
Pens:  Paterson 2

For Samoa:
Tries:  Al.  Tuilagi
Pens:  Warren 2

Yellow card(s):  Taina (Samoa) -- killing the ball, 31.

The teams:

Scotland:  15 Chris Paterson, 14 Rory Lamont (Hugo Southwell, 47), 13 Marcus di Rollo, 12 Andrew Henderson, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Dan Parks (Phil Godman, 61), 9 Chris Cusiter (Mike Blair, 61), 8 Allister Hogg, 7 Simon Taylor, 6 Jason White ( Kelly Brown, 70), 5 Scott Murray, 4 Craig Hamilton (Alasdair Kellock, 40), 3 Craig Smith (Gavin Kerr, 47), 2 Scott Lawson (Dougie Hall, 64), 1 Allan Jacobsen.

Manu Samoa:  15 Roger Warren (Loleni Tafunai, 75), 14 Lome Fa'atau (Sailosi Tagicakibau, 65), 13 Anitelea Tuilagi, 12 Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, 11 Alesana Tuilagi (Aukuso Collins, 65) 10 Tanner Vili, 9 Garrick Cowley (Notise Tauafao, 64), 8 Daniel Farani, 7 Iosefa Taina (Paul Tupai, 47), 6 Semo Sititi (captain), 5 Jonathan Faamatuainu (Leo Lafaiali'i, 40), 4 Daniel Leo, 3 Cencus Johnston, 2 Mahonri Schwalger, 1 Justin Va’a (Kas Lealamanu’a, 56).

Referee:  Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Touch judges:  Donal Courtney (Ireland), Christophe Berdos (France)
Television match official:  Simon McDowell (Ireland)