Scotland have registered their first win of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, beating Samoa 34-Nil in a Pool A match in Kolbe City in Japan. The Scots led 20-Nil at half-time in the only Rugby World Cup match played on Monday with four unanswered tries secured the Scots a bonus point victory against a 14-man Samoa.
Scotland needed a big win against Samoa to get their World Cup campaign back on track. The Scots had lost their opening match 27-3 to Ireland, while Samoa had won theirs against Russia 34-9. It was Samoa that had the upper hand early on but they struggled to break through a resolute and steely Scotland defence. The ninth-ranked Scotland soon turned the tables on their 15th ranked opponents.
They poked holes in their defence with their efforts earning them a penalty. Captain, Greig Laidlaw, converted the penalty to put his side three points in the lead. The Scots tried yet again to break through Samoa with Sean Maitland going on a fine run on the right. But he then passed the ball back to a Samoan player with a number of defenders closing in on him.
However, their relentless efforts paid off when a Finn Russell pass found Maitland on the left. The wing sprinted away to cross the whitewash and score Scotland’s first try of the tournament. Laidlaw scored Scotland’s second try after receiving a pass from Jamie Ritchie.
The 33 year-old bounced off a couple of tackles before scoring. Stuart Hogg had the presence of mind to take advantage of the space he was afforded with the Samoans deep inside their 22. The 27 year-old scored a drop goal sending the ball through the posts from a distance and Scotland went into the break, leading 20-nil.
Ill-discipline cost Samoa in the second half as they conceded lots of penalties. They were penalised with Ed Fidow yellow-carded in the 57th minute for illegally trying to stop a Scotland maul. Scotland were awarded a penalty try and led 27-nil after the video review showed Fidow was offside as he drove in to stop the maul.
The Scots were awarded a second penalty try with Fidow the culprit again a second yellow card culminating into a red-card. The 26 year-old Fidow had dived onto Maitland who was on his way to scoring his second try of the match after he was released on the left.
Scotland got the bonus point victory to move into third place in Pool A which is wide open after Japan’s surprise victory over Ireland.
