On we go! You’re all very welcome along to our live coverage of this Pool A clash between Scotland and Samoa from Misaki Stadium, Kobe.
We all know that Ireland have skin in this game having already accounted for Scotland before that meltdown against Japan over the weekend.
Meanwhile, Samoa defeated Russia in their first game and await Joe Schmidt’s side in our final pool fixture on Saturday 12 October.
We’ll have team news for you in the next few moments as we gear up for the 11.15am kick-off so do stay with us.
Here’s the Scotland line-up:
Stuart Hogg; Darcy Graham, Chris Harris, Sam Johnson, Sean Maitland; Finn Russell, Greig Laidlaw; Allan Dell, Stuart McInally, Willem Nel, Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray, Magnus Bradbury, Jamie Ritchie, Blade Thomson.
Replacements: Fraser Brown, Gordon Reid, Zander Fagerson, Scott Cummings, Ryan Wilson, George Horne, Adam Hastings, Duncan Taylor.
And here’s the Samoa selection:
Tim Nanai-Williams, Belgium Tuatagaloa, Alapati Leuia, Henry Taefu, Ed Fidow, Tusi Pisi, Melan Matavao, Logovi’i Mulipola, Ray Niuia, Michael Alaalatoa, Filo Paulo, Kane Le’aupepe, Chris Vui, TJ Ioane, Jack Lam
Replacements: Seilala Lam, Paul Alo-Emile, Jordan Lay, Piula Faasalele, Josh Tyrell, Pele Cowley, Ulupano Seuteni, Kieron Fonotia
How do you see this one going today?
Poll Results:
A bit of pre-match colour:
Here’s how Pool A is looking ahead of kick-off
Some set-up in Kobe Misaki Stadium.
— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) September 30, 2019
🏴 v 🇼🇸 here today.
🇮🇪 v 🇷🇺 on Thursday. #RWCKobe pic.twitter.com/HDTfquq0Ke
"All the games are must win games and with a bonus point"@EimearConsidine says Scotland need to show some more consistency before they can have any talk about winning the World Cup. #RWC2019 pic.twitter.com/5MiKTK6mEc
— eir Sport (@eirSport) September 30, 2019
Both teams are coming out onto the pitch now. It’s almost time to get underway.
KICK OFF! And Samo get us underway in Kobe.
1 mins – Greig Laidlaw collects the ball from a ruck and finds touch with his first kick.
3 mins — Super start from Scotland. Brilliant run from Darcy Graham to gain territory for Scotland. They go on the hunt from the maul as Samoa put in for the scrum just outside their tryline.
5 mins – Tusi Pisi clears the danger to find touch but Scotland put them under pressure again.
The play eventually ends in a penalty for Samoa.
8 mins — Samoa are struggling to get out of their own half although Scotland seem a little bit unsure with their passing.
Finn Russell tries to release the ball quickly and an early tackle sees them earn a penalty.
10 mins — Scotland are off the mark as Greig Laidlaw slots that penalty between the posts with ease. A just reward for their early dominance.
12 mins — Sean Maitland concedes a penalty which Samoa use to find touch. They retain possession from the lineout but Scotland secure the turnover and Hogg boots the ball down field.
15 mins — Samoa starting to grow into the game a little bit but handling errors are still cropping up. It’s very humid in the stadium which is making the ball hard to keep a hold of.
20 mins: Great work from Scotland but the Samoan forwards are doing well to hold them up.
The Scots work through the phases once more and it results in a scrum for Samoa in their own half of the pitch.
22 mins — Samoa stretch the ball out wide and the full-back Tim Nanai-Williams completes the move with a good kick to bring them inside Scotland’s half of the pitch.
23 mins – Turnover for Samoa allows them to launch a counter-attack and they’re really starting to grow into the game now after weathering the early storm.
The turnover came from Finn Russell losing grip of the ball. Remember, the humid conditions make it difficult for players to keep the ball in hand.
In fact, we’re pausing for a little water break now.
26 mins — Samoa go on the attack again but their momentum comes to a halt as the referee awards a penalty to Scotland, which allows Hogg to clear the danger with a great kick.
They win the lineout but the handling issues come up again as both sides fumble the ball. It will be Scotland who put in for the resultant scrum.
27 mins — Now it’s Scotland’s turn to push forward. They work the ball out to Maitland on the wing but the attack is snuffed out for a lineout to Scotland.
We’re approaching the final 10 minutes of the first half and Scotland need to put more points on the board.
TRY! Scotland 8-0 Samoa (Maitland 30′)
31 mins — Brilliant stuff from Scotland. Russell sends over a crossfield kick to Maitland who powers over the line to get the first try of the game.
Laidlaw adds the conversion to put Scotland in the driving seat.
TRY! Scotland 15-0 Samoa (Laidlaw 34′)
35 mins — Scotland are really starting to hit their stride now. They put in a string of awesome passes to find Laidlaw who bounces off a Samoa opponent to create a gap and sprint over for his side’s second try.
He steps up for the conversion and splits the posts to make it 17-0 with half-time coming up.
38 mins – Hogg lands a brilliant drop-goal from distance and that puts Scotland in a great position.
They always looked like they might start to take control and they’re really on top now.
42 mins – Hogg lands a great kick to find touch at the Samoa tryline. They win the lineout and unleash their rolling maul. They think they’re over the line but the referee awards a penalty instead.
Half-Time: Scotland 20-0 Samoa
Scotland 20-0 Samoa
Well the Scots came close to snatching a third try there before the end of the first half, but they fall short on the slippery surface.
Still, Gregor Townsend will be happy with how his side finished that half as they go in search of a crucial bonus-point win.
First Half Highlights
The teams are back out on the pitch for the second half!
KICK OFF! Hogg gets the game going for the second half
42 mins — Scotland look lively as Hogg collects an attempted clearance and offloads to Russell who dances through a few Samoa players before trying to link up with Darcy Graham.
Graham’s kick is a bit hasty and the attack comes to nothing but Scotland are looking dangerous again.
47 mins – Samoa show their strength in the scrum again and win a penalty. Pisi goes for touch again and fires the ball into Scottish territory.
They go on the maul from the lineout and get another penalty which brings them down to the five metre line.
49 mins — Samoa thought they had found a gap as Nanai-Williams races free with the ball but the referee calls play back and awards a penalty to Scotland.
It’s a huge let-off for Scotland as Hogg clears the danger.
51 mins — Scotland try to press for the line as they cycle the ball out but Sam Johnson fumbles it forward.
They still have territory as they prepare to put in for the scrum but they need more tries in this game.
54 mins – Scotland keep their composure in the scum to retain possession. Laidlaw spins the ball out to Russell, who tries a looping pass to Darcy on the win but it drifts past him.
Samoa win the lineout and try to clear the ball out but the attempted clearance is blocked and now Scotland substitute Fraser Brown will throw the ball in for the lineout.
55 mins – Some Scotland changes: Stuart McInally is replaced by Fraser Brown and Scott Cummings comes on for Grant Gilchrist.
Hogg kicks out over the touchline and Scotland are still trying to get through from the five metre line.
Possible Scotland try – The referee is going to the TMO to see if Brown grounded the ball from a maul.
Penalty Try! Scotland 27-0 Samoa
60 mins — Scotland now just one try away from the precious bonus point. It’s a double blow for Samoa who lose Ed Fidow to a yellow card for preventing Brown from scoring the try.
63 mins — Scotland are wasting no time in looking for that bonus-point try. Substitute Zander Fagerson tries to reach over but Samoa hold him up and they get a scrum for their efforts.
68 mins — Samoa are giving nothing away without a fight. They hold up Scotland again to win another penalty.
But Jonny Gray puts in another key tackle to force a turnover and they have the scrum. George Horne, who came on for Laidlaw, puts the ball in.
74 mins — Samoa are trying to sniff out a try. Brilliant carry from Josh Tyrell to keep their attack going.
Chris Vui brings possession into a Scotland wall and they lose possession.
Possible Scotland Try! Maitland sprints over the at the corner but we’re going to the TMO to decide.
74 mins – Replays show Maitland losing control of the ball coming to the line but Fidow’s tackle from behind is being debated.
Penalty Try! Scotland 34-0 Samoa
Bonus Point Secured! The score stands and Fidow receives a red card for his second yellow card offence of the game.
Samoa have been superb but moments of misfortune have let them down.
78 mins — Super interception! Nanai-Williams, who has been amazing for Samoa, times his run perfectly to steal the ball on the run and launch an attack.
They come up just short of the line but they have a lineout and would deserve to end this game with a try.
80 mins – Scotland win the ball back as the lineout flies over but Samoa come back fighting again.
The gong has sounded and this will be the last play.
Full-Time: Scotland 34-0 Samoa
Scotland 34-0 Samoa
They died fighting, but Samoa failed to finish the game with points on the board against Scotland.
It’s a first win of the tournament for Gregor Townsend’s side, and crucially, they have a bonus point as well.
Tries from Sean Maitland, Greig Laidlaw along with two second-half penalty tries give the Scots a comprehensive win in Kobe.
So here’s how Pool A looks now after that result.
Well, that’s all from us, folks.
Have a look at Murray Kinsella’s match report from Misaki Stadium before you go and we hope to have you with as again soon.
Bye for now!
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