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Samoa and Scotland have named their sides to take part in a crucial Pool B match in Newcastle on Saturday. Should the Manu sneak a victory, it will put Scotland in perilous danger of missing out on the quarter-finals pending Japan’s match with the US Eagles.
Under-fire head coach Stephen Betham has named a much changed side to the one that floundered against Japan, and has taken the bold step of dropping captain Ofisa Treviranus, with Kahn Fotuali’i leading the side in his absence. Maurie Fa’asavalu, Jack Lam, and Alafoti Fa’osiliva start in an entirely new back row, while Manu Leiataua earns his first World Cup start at hooker.
Alesana Tuilagi’s five week suspension hands an opporunity to Fa’atoina Autagavaia on the left wing, and a new centre pairing in Rey Lee-Lo and George Pisi runs out. Paul Perez shifts to the right wing to make room, with standout Tim Nanai-Williams retained at fullback.
Vern Cotter has also changed seven players as his side look to rebound from a tough loss against South Africa. Alasdair Dickinson and Ross Ford are restored in an all-Edinburgh front row, with Ryan Wilson and John Hardie turning up on the flanks.
The side receives a big boost with the return of Finn Russell at flyhalf and playmaker Mark Bennett in the midfield. Sean Maitland replaces Tim Visser on the wing, with Sean Lamont poised to win his 100th cap from the bench.
Samoa have beaten Scotland only once in nine tries, but ominously that came in their last meeting, a 27-17 win for the Manu in Durban in June 2013.
SAMOA
1 Sakaria Taulafo 2 Manu Leiataua 3 Census Johnston 4 Filo Paulo 5 Kane Thompson 6 Maurie Fa’asavalu 7 Jack Lam 8 Alafoti Fa’osiliva 9 Kahn Fotuali’i (capt.) 10 Tusi Pisi 11 Fa’atoina Autagavaia 12 Reynold Lee-Lo 13 George Pisi 14 Paul Perez 15 Tim Nanai-Williams
16 Motu Matu’u 17 Viliami Afatia 18 Anthony Perenise 19 Faifili Levave 20 Vavae Tuilagi 21 Vavao Afemai 22 Patrick Fa’apale 23 Ken Pisi
SCOTLAND
1 Alasdair Dickinson 2 Ross Ford 3 WP Nel 4 Richie Gray 5 Jonny Gray 6 Ryan Wilson 7 John Hardie 8 David Denton 9 Greig Laidlaw (capt.) 10 Finn Russell 11 Tommy Seymour 12 Matt Scott 13 Mark Bennett 14 Sean Maitland 15 Stuart Hogg
16 Fraser Brown 17 Gordon Reid 18 Jon Welsh 19 Tim Swinson 20 Josh Strauss 21 Henry Pyrgos 22 Peter Horne 23 Sean Lamont
