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Hello and welcome to ESPN's live coverage of the Pool B clash between Samoa and Scotland!
Follow our man at the ground, Tristan Barclay (@tbarclayESPN), who'll be providing us with his first hand insights straight from Newcastle.
You can read the preview HERE
Scotland XV: Stuart Hogg, Sean Maitland, Mark Bennett, Matt Scott, Tommy Seymour, Finn Russell, Greig Laidlaw (captain), Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford, Willem Nel, Richie Gray, Jonny Gray, Ryan Wilson, John Hardie, David Denton.
Samoa XV: Tim Nanai-Williams, Paul Perez, George Pisi, Rey Lee-Lo, Fa'atoina Autagavaia, Tusi Pisi, Kahn Fotuali'i (captain); Sakaria Taulafo, Ma'atulimanu Leiataua, Census Johnston, Teofilo Paulo, Kane Thompson, Maurie Faasavalu, Jack Lam, Alafoti Faosiliva.
Also see...
- Ireland's Payne out the Rugby World Cup
- New Zealand's victory over Tonga
- Our England vs. Uruguay preview
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| 1 |
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Samoa have kicked us off and straight away have brought the game to Scotland. The men in white are imposing themselves well straight from the off here, with Scotland having to call on Stuart Hogg's boot already to release the pressure being mounted on them.
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| 3 |
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Samoa lineout along their right flank, driving maul arrives but Scotland penalised for bringing it down. For opportunity for three points here.
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| 4 |
3 - 0 |
TM Pisi - penalty goal
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| 5 |
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Scotland's turn to tattack now, with Russell and Laidlaw combining well dow nthe left before pumping it back in field. They've made good ground here, just about to get inside the Samoan 22...
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| 6 |
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Ahhh, knock on. Samoa have the scrum now. Samoan pack is seven kilos heavier than Scotland's.
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| 8 |
3 - 3 |
One back to Scotland here as Census Johnston is penalised for collapsing in the scrum. Scotland's chance for a few points now. Kick is just outside the 22.
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| 10 |
10 - 3 |
SAMOA TRY!
Samoa are straight back at it with Alafoti Faosiliva bursting to the five metre line before finding Tusi Pisi on his right who touches it down just in the corner! We needed a TMO check to see if he didn't bounce the ball over the line but the points are given and Pisi adds the extras!
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| 11 |
10 - 8 |
SCOTLAND TRY!
Well, well, well. Another TMO decision there. Controversy here in Newcastle. Tommy Seymour is alert and intercepts a stray Samoan pass right on their try line. Samoa's No.12 is beaten to the catch by Seymour who slaps it 'forward', catches the other side of the man and then touches down.
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| 12 |
10 - 10 |
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| 13 |
15 - 10 |
SAMOA TRY!
What is going on here! Madness! Samoa straight back. Scotland's defence in complete pieces and a couple of quick passes soon after kick off unlocks the space for Manu Leiataua to break through for the next five points!
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| 16 |
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Is the game settling down? Nope, not at all. Scotland had the lineout along their right flank just inside the Samoan 22. What will come of this?
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| 17 |
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No driving maul, but Samoan are penalised for tackling off their feet. Scotland have gone for the lineout despite it definitely being in kicking range. Can they smell blood here?
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| 18 |
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Lineout turns into the driving maul unlike the first, and manages to gain five metres or so until it's broken down. Samoa penalised for being offside and this time Laidlaw has opted to take the points.
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| 19 |
15 - 13 |
Laidlaw - penalty goal
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| 20 |
20 - 13 |
SAMOA TRY
This is utter madness. Samoa looking very impressive on the ball and are having a lot of joy down their left flank with Rey Lee-Lo and Tim Nanai-Williams running riot. Some nice passing but Scotland's main problem is they just can't deal with the pace of the Samoan's. Scotland only one converted try behind, somehow...
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| 21 |
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| 22 |
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We've got a scrum now, perhaps this will settle the game down a bit...
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| 24 |
20 - 16 |
How silly of me to think that. Scotland have added even more points to the board. Laidlaw's kicking keeping them within touching distance.
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| 27 |
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Scotland under severe pressure as Samoa mounting again for the next try...
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| 28 |
23 - 16 |
Laidlaw once again to rescue as he runs the ball out from his 22 down the left flank. He's not made that much ground, but that extra five metres could prove vital but they've gone to the TMO for a tackle check...and Ryan Wilson has been binned for foul play! Pisi to kick again.
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| 31 |
23 - 21 |
SCOTLAND TRY!
The lineout has paid dividends here. After the first two failed attempts of the driving maul from the initial throw, the third one has supplied the try! The Scottish pack completely splinters the Samoan's and Laidlaw has leveled up with his boots.
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| 32 |
23 - 23 |
Laidlaw - conversion
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| 33 |
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Samoa lineout along their right flank, just along half way. Tommy Seymour kicked pushed the two teams up the field to this point.
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| 34 |
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Samoa looking threatening again with Nanai-Williams looking as likely as ever to score another try. The Pacific Islanders are passing the ball very well here.
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| 35 |
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SAMOA TRY....NO!
They very nearly hand it thanks to Zak Taulafo. Pace is ripping this Scottish defence apart and the passing from their opponents has been fantastic. Scotland just couldn't handle the movement of the Samoan backs, in particular Nanai-Williams, but Scotland are saved here by the TMO finding an offside.
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| 36 |
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Samoa penalty offers the chance for them to probably go in at the break in the lead... Physiological boost perhaps?
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| 37 |
26 - 23 |
TM Pisi - penalty goal
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| 39 |
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Scottish lineout on the right flank. Driving maul...We all know what happened last time...
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| 40 |
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Nope! Nothing. Laidlaw does manage a brief little forward run with ball in hand but is soon hacked down. Penalised, however, and Samoa kicked up field for their own throw and catch drill, which also results in nothing significant.
HALF TIME!
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| 40+1 |
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HALF TIME ANALYSIS
ESPN's Tristan Barclay had this to say:
"Scotland have a tendency to start games slowly, while Samoa came out at St James' Park like a steam train. The result? 40 minutes of utter chaos. The Pacific Islanders have been breaking the gainline with almost every attack, making hay in the open nature of the game and humiliating Scottish tacklers. Huge players in professional rugby are nothing new, but Samoa seem just too big and powerful for the slighter Scots. The Dark Blues are really only holding on thanks to some calm decision-making by skipper Greig Laidlaw, who has chosen to kick for the posts and corners at the correct times, but they were put under real pressure by the yellow card shown to Ryan wilson. He was lucky to escape red, but head coach Vern Cotter is likely to be a nice shade of rouge in the changing room right now. "
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| 40 |
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We're back underway but not for long as Samoa's Maurie Fa'asavalu is down with an injury, and he looks in a lot of pain, too...
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| 41 |
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Tough guys these rugby players. After a couple of minutes fist clenching to make sure his arm still works (I guess?) he's back on his feet and involved in his sides lineout.
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| 43 |
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Scottish penalty after a high tackle on Mark Bennett. Within kicking range but they've gone for the lineout deep in the Samoan 22.
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| 44 |
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Anddd, they've given it back. Samoa penalty, kicked left and out. Samoa lineout.
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| 47 |
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Stalemate - that's one way to describe the start of this first half. We've just had another lineout along the Scottish right flank, but not much has come from it. Tempo is still there from the first half, but little coming from either side.
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| 49 |
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Scrum just inside the Samoan 22, Scotland to feed...
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| 50 |
26 - 26 |
Finally Scotland decide to take the points from the penalty and are now level.
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| 51 |
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Just as Scotland look to secure the next try when they intercept and counter inside their half, their poor passing lets them down again meaning they couldn't work their way around the last couple of Samoan defenders. But, Laidlaw has another kicking chance...
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| 52 |
26 - 29 |
Laidlaw - penalty goal
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| 55 |
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The ball continues to find it's way stuck along the half way with neither side dominating one another. Laidlaw's kicking is proving vital. Samoa have already conceded seven second half penalties with another kicking chance coming up for the Scottish No.9 albeit 49 metres out.
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| 56 |
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Just wide!
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| 59 |
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Scotland lineout along their right flank...
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| 60 |
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Samoa steal the lineout and they've gained some ground and are heading into the Scottish half. Vern Cotter's men seemed to have sealed their defence a bit more and Pacific Islanders seem to be finding it much harder to find gaps in the second half.
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| 62 |
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Pretty ridiculous amount of penalties being conceded here. Samoa have just let slip again and bring their count up to 17 for the game. Fortunate that Scotland like the corner or they could've been down and out ages ago.
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| 64 |
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Scotland attacking well here, reaching phase 11, before knocking on. Scotland looking the slightly better side as we enter the final quarter, but only just.
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| 65 |
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Scrum now, the fourth of game...
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| 66 |
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Samoa attacking well after that scrum but just as look like imposing themselves again Scotland regain possession and are back at it themselves.
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| 69 |
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Back and forth stuff here in Newcastle. Both sides clearly desperate for the win and silly errors are creeping into both sides. Scotland penalty - again - which has been kicked to the corner.
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| 70 |
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ANOTHER penalty here as Samoa are penalised for coming in at the side. Lineout, again...
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| 71 |
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Scotland within a metre...
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| 72 |
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TMO for the Scotland TRY..!
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| 73 |
26 - 34 |
It's not given! Very scrappy period of play there. Couple of minutes of some solid Samoan defending finally faltered letting the Scottish ball carrier through under their sticks. But, play was brought back for an offside and we've got the scrum from five metres out!
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| 74 |
26 - 36 |
SCOTLAND TRY!
There we have it! At last! Laidlaw has made it! The Scottish scrum worked its socks off and Laidlaw snuck in round the side to secure the try after a neat little dummy.
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| 75 |
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Samoa are back at it and they're a metre from the Scottish try line here! Can they spring another surprise?
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| 76 |
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They've been awarded the penalty and they go quickly with Maurie Fa'asavalu, is it, is it....
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| 77 |
33 - 36 |
SAMOA TRY!
Here we go. Nail biting time for Scotland fans. A little one-two pass with Motu Matu'u and Rey Lee-Lo splits Mark Bennett and Fraser Brown on the line to make way for the try!
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| 79 |
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Samoa - albeit in their own half - have possession... but it's been pinched back and Scotland have just a few moments to waste before being in the quarters!
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| 80 |
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Scotland have done it! IT'S OVER!
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| 80+1 |
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FULL TIME ANALYSIS
ESPN's Tristan Barclay had this to say:
"The first-half was one of the most chaotic periods of rugby anyone inside St James' Park will have witnessed. The second-half was just as mad. Scotland came out from half-time with a plan to kick for touch in an attempt to heap pressure on the Samoan defence, but the Dark Blues failed to execute it and Samoa went with them right to the end. Greig Laidlaw thought he'd won it for his side when he touched down on 75 minutes but the Pacific Islanders ensured a terrifying final two minutes when Patrick Fa'apale went over to make it a three-point game. Scotland clung on, but there will be few fingernails left on the fingers of their fans after that heart-stopping game. "
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