Laidlaw points way as Scots survive a Samoan onslaught
SCOTLAND are through, but that tells you nothing. This was an afternoon of dash and daring.
Scottish hearts were in dry mouths. For 80 frantic minutes, their future participation in the World Cup was blowing in the chill northern air.
It was riveting to behold. Samoa had nothing to lose and nothing to gain in official terms — they were destined for Pool B oblivion before kickoff – and used that freedom to express themselves.
How emphatically they played, making Scotland sweat on their fate. Yes, Scotland progressed to the knock-out stages, where Australia await, having clung on, somehow, to the coattails of the South Sea Islanders. ‘We came across a Samoa team we haven’t seen this World Cup,’ said Scotland head coach Vern Cotter. ‘We had to show character.’
Scotland again started slowly. Samoa dominated possession. They scored their first try through fly-half Tusi Pisi out wide. Nine minutes gone. A massive roar, Scottish sighs.
Yet, in a bonkers aberration, the Samoans chucked the ball merrily around behind their own try line. Wing Paul Perez fumbled it and Tommy Seymour collected the gift to score.
But if this should have betokened a new wave of Scottish dominance, it did not. We looked from one end of the pitch to the other like a Wimbledon tennis umpire.
Samoa retook the lead through Manu Leiataua’s try and went further ahead when Reynold Lee-Lo went over. Every one of their crazy deeds was working. Scotland had Ryan Wilson sent to the sin-bin for stamping, but they got back into the game with John Hardie burrowing through.
The conversion made it all square. Samoa had a try disallowed but a penalty kick meant they were 26-23 up at the end of the first half.
Two early second-half penalties from Greig Laidlaw made him the leading scorer in this World Cup and he scored and converted the decisive Scottish try. Surely game over? Not yet. Samoa camped out deep in Scottish territory and scored through replacement Moto Matu’u. A valiant effort indeed.
SAMOA: Nanai-Williams, Perez, G Pisi, Lee-Lo, Autagavaia (K Pisi 71min), T Pisi (Faapale 71), Fotuali’i (Afemai 79), Taulafo (Afatia 59), Leiataua (Matu’u 73), Johnston (Perenise 59), Paulo, Thompson (Levave 29), Faasavalu, Lam, Faosiliva (A Tuilagi 59). TRIES: T Pisi, Leiataua, Lee-Lo, Matu’u. Cons: T Pisi, Faapale. Pens: T Pisi 3.
SCOTLAND: Hogg (Lamont 70), Maitland, Bennett, Scott (Horne 76), Seymour, Russell, Laidlaw, Dickinson, Ford (Brown 65), Nel, R Gray, J Gray (Swinson 62), Wilson (Strauss 53), Hardie, Denton.
Replacements (not used): Reid, Welsh, Pyrgos. Sin Bin: Wilson (28min).
TRIES: Seymour, Hardie, Laidlaw. Cons: Laidlaw 3. Pens: Laidlaw 5.
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa).