Scotland vs Samoa, Rugby World Cup 2019 LIVE: Result and reaction from today's fixture in Kobe
Relive Scotland’s latest Rugby World Cup 2019 fixture
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Your support makes all the difference.Scotland revived their Rugby World Cup campaign with a 34-0 victory over Samoa on Monday, scoring four tries in a much-improved performance to secure a bonus point that could prove crucial in a tight Pool A.
Japan's stunning upset of Ireland on Saturday shattered the expected permutations of the pool and the Scots knew they needed to get a big win on the board after their dismal defeat to the Irish in their opener.
Winger Sean Maitland and scrumhalf Greig Laidlaw scored converted tries with Stuart Hogg landing a 40-metre drop goal in the first half, while two penalty tries after the break secured the all-important extra point.
Match preview
Where can I watch it?
Live coverage will be shown on ITV and the ITV Hub online at 7:25am.
When is the match?
Scotland vs Samoa takes place on Monday 30 September at the Kobe Misaki Stdium.
What time does it start?
The match kicks off at 7:15pm Japan Standard Time, which is 11:15am BST.
Odds
- Scotland to win: 1/6
- Samoa to win: 13/2
- Draw: 50/1
Prediction
Scotland 25-20 Samoa: Scotland should deliver something of a response to last week’s shocker against Ireland, and the nine days’ rest will have helped compared to Samoa’s week-turnaround. However, results between these two sides tend to be tight, and on the grand occasion of a World Cup clash, this should be no different.
With the roof up for this particular game, it seems like it's getting pretty toasty inside the Misaki stadium from what the reporters covering the game have been saying on Twitter. Not the case up in Osaka. I've found myself a nice seat in a British-themed, air-conditioned pub in the city centre. Proper authentic...
What's been said in the build-up to this morning's match?
Well, Gregor Townsend has insisted that the World Cup actually starts now for his Scotland side - as opposed to last weekend when they were humiliated by Ireland. Convenient, right?
"The players have responded well in training, know what is required of them and are hungry to deliver the kind of performance that keeps us in the World Cup," he said on Saturday.
"The reality is we now have to win our next three games to make it out of our pool, so the knockout stages for us begin this Monday night. I firmly believe this group are ready to take on that challenge."
Some more words from Gregor Townsend ahead of kick-off.
"It is obviously motivation to play much better tonight to show a true picture of who we are," he said. "We know how tough it will be, but we believe we'll show a much better performance and that it will be enough for us to win."
Asked if Samoa's firepower is the main danger, he said: "That and the ambition they play with.
"It's sweaty conditions here tonight and so far Samoa have moved the ball from their own 22 - they did that very well against us at the last World Cup - so we've got to put their handling skills under pressure.
"When they're carrying ball, they will hit us hard. When we're carrying ball, we know they are going to hit us hard. I believe we'll see more mauls and more scrums tonight just given the conditions."
Meanwhile, Samoa coach Steve Jackson is hoping his side can follow Japan's giant-killing act by creating another World Cup shock this morning.
He said: "I take my hat off to Japan. It was great to watch and, like any other team, we were almost cheering.
"It was a fantastic atmosphere and this Rugby World Cup here in Japan has been amazing.
"We watched the game yesterday and it's fantastic, isn't it? An upset in the Rugby World Cup. Now we will focus on Scotland and, if it goes the way we hope, it'll be another upset there.
"It just goes to show that you've got to turn up on the day and play a game of 80 minutes."
Just under 10 minutes to go until kick-off as the two squads head to the changing rooms for some final words. Not long to go.
And back they come to line up for the national anthems. Almost there.
Okay, here we go, at last. This is going to be a big, big game of collisions. I'm expecting plenty of fireworks. Samoa to get us under way.
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