Scotland - 18 Samoa - 11: A try seven minutes from the end of a scrappy game yesterday gave Scotland their first win since Frank Hadden took over as head coach but will do little for their fans' hopes against the All Blacks this weekend.
For the second weekend running Murrayfield had more than 50,000 empty seats, but whereas the 14,000 who bothered to watch the Argentina match had plenty to cheer until Scotland lost the plot with 20 minutes to go, yesterday's 73rd-minute try by Marcus Di Rollo brought only a huge sigh of relief.
Samoa are a development squad, largely amateur - only three of the team beaten 38-3 by Scotland in Wellington last year remain.
Nevertheless, Scotland came distinctly second best in the contact areas, spilling ball or turning it over. They were behind within six minutes after being penalised for attempting to drop a driving maul. Semo Sititi called for the kick to the corner, Daniel Leo took the catch, Garrick Cowley chipped over the defence and Alesana Tuilagi wrenched the ball from Chris Cusiter's arms to score the try.
The Scots had chosen an adventurous path, running everything. It looked pretty, but handling mistakes and the drifting Samoan defence kept them empty-handed until the pack sorted things out in the 19th minute. For once the backs were left to watch as a lineout turned into a maul which stuttered at first before bundling the flanker Allister Hogg over the line.
From the restart Scotland went behind again. Alesana Tuilagi again used his strength to scatter defenders at the start of a 35-yard break which ended when his chip ahead cruelly hit the posts, indirectly earning Samoa a penalty, which Warren converted, rather than the likely five points.
Paterson levelled with a penalty for a ruck offence but for all their possession Scotland could not string phases together. A pragmatic boot or two from Dan Parks might have put more pressure on Samoa.
However, the second half started much the same way, although in Samoan territory. Twice in five minutes Scotland were bundled out in the left corner. The pressure did at least give Scotland the lead - a Paterson penalty - but by 61 minutes Hadden had seen enough and swapped his half-back pairing, Mike Blair replacing Cusiter and Phil Godman coming on for Parks.
Warren levelled the scores, but the half-back changes at least helped the ball get wider faster. Hogg had another go down the left and Hugo Southwell, on for the dazed Lamont, went close down the right before Di Rollo scored.
SCOTLAND: Paterson; R Lamont, Di Rollo, Henderson, S Lamont; Parks, Cusiter; Jacobsen, Lawson, Smith; Hamilton, Murray; White, Taylor, Hogg. Replacements: Kellock for Hamilton (h-t); Southwell for Lamont, Kerr for Smith (both 47 mins); Godman for Parks, Blair for Cusiter (both 61 mins); Brown for White (66 mins). Tries: Hogg, Di Rollo. Con: Paterson. Pens: Paterson 2.
SAMOA: Warren; Faatau, Anitelea Tuilagi, Fuimaono-Sapolu, Alesana Tuilagi; Vili, Cowley; Va'a, Schwalger, Johnston; Leo, Faamatuainu; Sititi, Taina, Farani. Replacements: Lafaialaii for Faamatuainu (h-t); Tauafao for Cowley (64mins); Tagicakibau for Faatau, Collins for Alesana Tuilagi (both 65 mins) Try: Alesana Tuilagi. Pens: Warren 2. Sinbin: Tiana, 31.
Referee: A Rolland (Ireland).
Guardian Service
