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Scotland claimed the maximum five competition points in humbling Samoa this morning. The 34-0 win was the first shutout of the tournament as Samoa became the first team to be kept scoreless.
First half tries to Sean Maitland and Greig Laidlaw placed the Northern British nation in control and they would remain there throughout. The first was scored by former Maori All Black, Sean Maitland who scored in the left corner following a kick-case from fly half Finn Russell.
Laidlaw converted Maitland’s try and would then scored and convert his own. It saw him following the defense to sneak past fullback Tim Nanai-Williams and score.
Samoa were outmatched across the park. They were also tactically inferior to Scotland who added to their 17-0 lad through Stuart Hogg. The fullback landed a 40 meter strike to put Scotland 20 points up at half-time.
In the second half Scotland would not cross the try line though they would be awarded two penalty tries. The culprit on both occasions was winger Ed Fidow. Folioing on from his yellow card and wanting for punching against Russia, Fidow ended up being red carded against Scotland.
In the first offense Fidow entered a rolling maul from the side to illegally prevent Fraser Brown from scoring. He was yellow carded and Scotland received a penalty try. In the second offense Fidow slid in, leading with his knee on Maitland to prevent a try. He was sent-off for it as a second yellow card though the offense alone merited a red card by law.
Samoans supporters now face a nervous wait to see whether or not Fidow is cited. If so it would likely see Samoa three players down via suspension. It is not ideal with Samoa set to face Pool A leaders, Japan in Toyota on Saturday.
Scotland’s next match is to be against Russia in Shizuoka on Wednesday, October 09. A short turn-around will follow with the Scots then facing Japan in Yokohama on Sunday, October 13.
SCORING
SCOTLAND (34)
Try: Maitland (29′), Laidlaw (33′), Penalty Try (56′, 74′)
Conversion: Laidlaw (30′, 35′)
Penalty: Laidlaw (8′)
Dropgoal: Hogg (37′)
SAMOA (0)
Red Card: Fidow (74′)
TEAMS
SAMOA
1 Logovii Mulipola, 2 Ray Niuia, 3 Michael Ala’alatoa, 4 Teofilo Paulo, 5 Kane Le’aupepe, 6 Chris Vui, 7 TJ Ioane, 8 Jack Lam (capt.), 9 Melani Matavao, 10 Tusi Pisi, 11 Ed Fidow, 12 Henry Taefu, 13 Alapati Leiua, 14 Belgium Tuatagaloa, 15 Tim Nanai-Williams
Replacements: 16 Seilala Lam, 17 Paul Alo-Emile, 18 Jordan Lay, 19 Piula Fa’asalele, 20 Josh Tyrell, 21 Pele Cowley, 22 Ulupano Seuteni, 23 Kieron Fonotia
SCOTLAND
1 Allan Dell, 2 Stuart McInally (capt.), 3 WP Nel, 4 Grant Gilchrist, 5 Jonny Gray, 6 Magnus Bradbury, 7 Jamie Ritchie, 8 Blade Thomson, 9 Greig Laidlaw, 10 Finn Russell, 11 Sean Maitland, 12 Sam Johnson, 13 Chris Harris, 14 Darcy Graham, 15 Stuart Hogg
Replacements: 16 Fraser Brown, 17 Gordon Reid, 18 Zander Fagerson, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Ryan Wilson, 21 George Horne, 22 Adam Hastings, 23 Duncan Taylor
