SCOTLAND WELCOME BACK Finn Russell, John Hardie and Sean Maitland for Saturday’s crucial final Pool B game against Samoa on Saturday.

Defeat to South Africa last week means that Scotland must beat Samoa to guarantee their place in the quarter finals.

Russell, Hardie, and Maitland all missed Saturday’s defeat with injury, but they return to the side as three of seven changes ahead of the meeting with already eliminated Samoa.

Alasdair Dickinson and Ross Ford join Willem Nel in the front row, while bothers Jonny and Richie Gray continue behind them.

John Hardie replaces Blair Cowan for his fourth cap, while Ryan Wilson gets the nod over Josh Strauss, with David Denton continuing at eight.

Finn Russell is back from injury at outhalf to partner Greig Laidlaw while Richie Vernon drops out of the centre, Mark Bennett partnering Matt Scott.

Maitland is back on the wing in place of Tim Visser, alongside Tommy Seymour and Stuart Hogg in the back three.

A win for Scotland will guarantee their place in the last eight, but they could still qualify with a defeat, providing Japan fail to win against the USA on Sunday.

Scotland (v Samoa)

15. Stuart Hogg

14. Sean Maitland

13. Mark Bennett

12. Matt Scott

11. Tommy Seymour

10. Finn Russell

9. Greig Laidlaw

1. Alasdair Dickinson

2. Ross Ford

3. Willem Nel

4. Richie Gray

5. Jonny Gray

6. Ryan Wilson

7. John Hardie

8. David Denton

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