Scotland v Samoa

[TRF_Cymro]

Murrayfield Stadium
27 November 2010
Kick Off 14:30​

 

[Geoff_]

Looks like a good game to watch. Hope Samoa can pull off a victory to end their tour on a high!

 

[Sam Owen]

Another tough game but we're in with a real chance I believe, despite Scotland coming off a very impressive win last week.

 

[Seaton]

Gutted this is not being shown live in favour of the EPL

I tihnk if Samoa play as physically as they tend to, we are in trouble. Can't think of one Scot as tough as the Islanders



And for mercy's sake, the game is at PITTODRIE, in ABERDEEN
Lazy journalism fromm all sections of global media

 

[eot345]

samoa to win by 3

 

[cardassian]

Hoping this is a good game.

Scotland are coming off a big win and will want to cap it off with a win here.

Samoa however are always up for a game and hopefully they can get a win here.

 

[Dougydeluxe]

I think it could be a great game, Samoa are playing well no matter what the condition. Scotland have gotten a big win and have shown time and time again that they can win games the hard way. Now I want them to use this confidence and try and get a few more hands and offloads involved in the game play.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I'm hoping for a Samoa win,
Now that Scotland has beaten SA I won't feel bad rooting for Samoa as they've gotten a win now, and I don't want Samoa leaving without a win

 

[gingergenius]

I wouldn't put it past Scotland losing this one. They're a very handy side when conditions suit them and when they put their minds to it. That's what saw them beat Australia last year, Ireland in the 6N and South Africa just now. However, they're also capable of falling to pieces - see Argentina last year, Italy in the 6N and New Zealand a week ago.

So the inconsistency of Scotland suggests that they may (hopefully) trip up on Saturday.

 

[Seaton]

I wouldn't put it past Scotland losing this one. They're a very handy side when conditions suit them and when they put their minds to it. That's what saw them beat Australia last year, Ireland in the 6N and South Africa just now. However, they're also capable of falling to pieces - see Argentina last year, Italy in the 6N and New Zealand a week ago.

So the inconsistency of Scotland suggests that they may (hopefully) trip up on Saturday.

Ah, but there is consistency

Two good performances then a pretty poor one

Much better than in the past, but again I can see why Samoa would be up for this game. They have had 2 decent results against two good teams, and are facing arguably their weakest (physically, mentally and technically) team (national) on tour, whilst we have had a battering two weeks, and the anticipation and urgency may have dropped dramatically after the SA win.



I must admit my knowledge of the Pacific teams in the XVs game is really poor, and I struggle to watch re-runs of games, hence i have not watched their games on tour.
could Sam Owen fill me in where it might go right for Samoa?

 

[khaotix]

Im gonna say a win for Samoa, I know Scotland had a good win last week but South Africa were terribad, Scotland need to learn how to score tries.

 

[Cam]

My prediction = Scotland 16 (3 penalties and a converted try) Samoa 10 (1 penalty and a converted try)

Come on Scotland!

 

[Sam Owen]

I must admit my knowledge of the Pacific teams in the XVs game is really poor, and I struggle to watch re-runs of games, hence i have not watched their games on tour.
could Sam Owen fill me in where it might go right for Samoa?

Im like you brother lol. Although I know more players and staff and am Samoan myself and love our Rugby team with a passion, I havent managed to see any of their games live as I live in NZ and the only way for me to keep with the Manu Samoa is to subscribe to Rugby channel. I watch highlight replays from some guy named tonytai off youtube.

My pick of the top players for our team would have to be Kahn Fotualii (halfback), Paul Williams (fullback), Alesana Tuilagi (wing), Filipo Levi (lock), Seilala Mapusua (2nd 5) and Tasesa Lavea (1st 5). They might not be so experienced in the international scene but played plenty of top grade Rugby such as Super and Heinikken Rugby.

Please God let us have ONE win.

 

[Seaton]

Scotland team announced, curtesy of the Scottish Rugby website

15 Hugo Southwell (Stade Francais) 56 caps, 8 tries, 40 points
14 Nikki Walker (Ospreys) 17 caps, 4 tries, 20 points
13 Joe Ansbro (Northampton Saints) 1 cap
12 Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors) 27 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
11 Sean Lamont (Scarlets) 49 caps, 7 tries, 35 points
10 Dan Parks (Cardiff Blues) 55 caps, 4 tries, 10 conversions, 40 penalties, 12 drop goals, 196 points
9 Rory Lawson (Gloucester) 21 caps CAPTAIN

1 Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh) 49 caps
2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh) 42 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
3 Euan Murray (Northampton Saints) 34 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
4 Nathan Hines (Leinster) 66 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
5 Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) 5 caps
6 Kelly Brown (Saracens) 39 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
8 Richie Vernon (Glasgow Warriors) 5 caps
7 John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors) 22 caps, 2 tries, 10 points

Substitutes
16 Dougie Hall (Glasgow Warriors) 32 caps
17 Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors) 9 caps
18 Jim Hamilton (Gloucester) 30 caps, 1 try, 5 points
19 Ross Rennie (Edinburgh) 3 caps
20 Mike Blair (Edinburgh) 65 caps, 5 tries, 25 points
21 Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors) 1 cap
22 Max Evans (Glasgow Warriors) 14 caps, 2 tries, 10 points

 

[Seaton]

A wee bit dissapointed Jackson isn't gonna start, but in Andy we trust

Samoa team also announced, from Sky Sports

Samoa: 15 P Williams, 14 D Lemi, 13 G Pisi, 12 S Mapasua, 11 A Tuilagi, 10 T Lavea, 9 K Fotualii, 1 Z Taulafo, 2 M Schwalger (capt), 3 C Johnston, 4 F Levi, 5 K Thompson, 6 O Treviranus, 7 M Salavea, 8 G Stowers.
Replacements: 16 T Paulo, 17 A Perenise, 18 J Tekori, 19 D Leo, 20 A Aiono, 21 J Poluleuligaga, 22 F Otto.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

*yawn* will be the name of the game with Parks at 10,
Hopefully (for the Scots) Ruaridh gets a decent amount of game time

 

[Tom434]

Scotland can go into this game feeling very confident. It's not for a while now that scotland have been able to put out such a strong team whilst having so many injuries. When guys like Kellock, Cusiter and Beattie are fit again, Robison will have some real selection head aches. Scottish rugby seems to be going from strength to strength just now but if I did have one complaint it would be the lack of opportunity for our outstanding youth. Warren Gatland has been superb at bringing young guys like Prydie, North and Halfpenny into the squad and now surely Robinson has go to look at giving guys like Duncan Weir and Roddy Grant a look in. In a couple of years aswell I'd like to think we could see the young stars of Prem One pusing on into the full international squad, guys like Mark Bennett of Ayr and Murray McConnell of west.

 

[cardassian]

I think Samoa has a real chance in this one.

The edge for Samoa will be in the contact area with hard running and hard defence.

They'll bring a better attack against Scotland than they faced against the springboks.

However Scotland should win the battle of the tight and will have a better kicking game.

Game plan for Scotland should be to play territory and possession and deny Saomoa attacking opportunities while giving themselves opportunities with the boot (I don't think Scotland really have the strike power to crack the Samoan defence which is very organised).

Game plan for Samoa is to make it a fast running game to capitialise on the strike power they have across the feild.

Don't think either teams fitness will be a major concern in this one.

 

[Amobokoboko]

Should be a close game. If Samoa can work on their kicking they can do it.

 

[Darwin]

I'm quietly confident that Samoa might be able to pull off the victory - for once they have almost the same team for the third week in a row (I think Johnston coming in for Perenise is the only change to the starting lineup this week). Again I think Samoa should be ok at scrum time, but do worry that they may have trouble maintaining there own lineout ball (though they were fine in this area last week, despite my reservations). Interesting to see that Samoa have a 5/2 split on the bench - it suggest that they may be a bit worried about how there forwards will hold up after a number of hard games in a row.

There is plenty of size in both backlines - the battle between Nikki Walker and Alex Tuilagi on the wing will be interesting, as they are two of the biggest wings going around in international rugby.

If Samoa can kick their goals (a big if!) I can see it being a very close game - I will pick Samoa to win by 2....