Scotland are through to the last eight of the World Cup after being pushed all the way by a lively Samoa team.
The two sides traded scores in a frantic opening half which saw Scotland score two tries to Samoa’s three and meant the Scots trailed 26-23 at the half.
The Pacific islanders thought they had secured a bonus point after just 35 minutes, but play was called back after the TMO spotted an obstruction on Greig Laidlaw.
Still, Scotland just edged it 36-33 in the end and booked their place in the quarter-finals where they will face either Australia or Wales.
Here are the five takeaways from this game:
1. Scotland’s favourable draw ends now
While Scottish fans will be delighted to see their team make the quarter-finals after the football team fell just short against Poland on Thursday, it would take one hell of performance from Vern Cotter’s men to make a semi-final.
Scotland have benefited greatly from a very favourable draw in this tournament. Japan ended up being their biggest rivals for the second position in Pool B, and the Scots were allowed to play them just four days after the 2019 hosts’ heroic victory over South Africa.
There will be no mercy for them in the next round, as they face either Wales or Australia. While anything can happen on the day, it would be a massive shock for Scotland to get past either of those two.
2. Slow starts remain a massive issue
In arguably the weakest group in the tournament, Scotland have allowed their opponents to score an average of 23 points a game. In contrast, Six Nations champions Ireland go into their game against France giving up less than nine points per game on average.
Most of this is down to the slow starts Scotland continue to make. In each of their four pool games, Scotland struggled early on to impose themselves on the game.
While they eventually allowed their superior fitness to carry them through against the tier-two teams, South Africa made them pay and so will Australia or Wales.
3. Different rules for different tiers
Put simply, it is amazing that Ryan Wilson was not sent off for his stamp at the end of the first half. The biggest criticism of this World Cup has been the treatment of tier-two nations compared to those at the top, and the trend continued here.
While Samoa were missing their record try-scorer after Alesana Tuilagi received a five-week (reduced to two upon appeal) ban for what appeared to be simply trying to break a tackle, Wilson was allowed to stay on the pitch.
Had Wilson made contact with the face, he most certainly would have been sent off. But that would be missing the point. Wilson was not looking at the Samoan player, but he knew that he was there.
It is only through sheer luck that his studs came down on the upper arm rather than an eye.
4. Greig Laidlaw is a class above
This World Cup has made it more evident than ever the influence that Greig Laidlaw has over this Scottish team. He is a worthy captain and is one of the few Scottish players who can create attacks from nothing.
His 26 points against Samoa makes him the highest points scorer at this World Cup so far and Scotland need him if they are to have any chance in the semi-finals.
Scotland need Laidlaw to control his emotions and avoid silly yellow cards like the one he got against USA. His mere presence lifts the team and is Cotter’s general on the pitch.
TRY! Laidlaw gets what could prove the crucial score for Scotland – brought to you by @SamsungUK | #SamsungRugby http://t.co/Fncc3GDYGY
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) October 10, 2015
5. Cotter yet to make his mark
When Vern Cotter took over as Scotland coach in May of last year, it felt like it could be the moment that stopped the rot for Scottish rugby.
During his time at Clermont, Cotter built one of the strongest and most exciting teams in European rugby, and it was expected he would try to do the same at Scotland.
But while Cotter’s former protege Joe Schmidt has clearly changed the culture of the Irish team, it’s hard to say that Cotter has successfully done the same with his adopted nation.
Basic errors remain a hallmark of this Scottish side. While he is clearly dealing with less talent than he had at Clermont, it’s the lack of accuracy in the Scottish play that is most worrying – and most disappointing.
