Scotland v Samoa preview: Scots braced for game of their lives

Vern Cotter's side overwhelmed Japan and the United States in their opening two games before being given a reality check in a 34-16 defeat against South Africa and know they will have to be at their best to beat dangerous opponents with nothing to lose in Newcastle.

Samoa may already be out of the reckoning for a place in the last eight, but Scotland will not be underestimating a side who beat the United States 25-16 before losing 46-6 to South Africa and 26-5 against Japan.

Defeat would end Scotland's involvement in the tournament if Japan beat the United States in their last pool match. A high-scoring draw for Japan could also break Scottish hearts if Scotland lose without a bonus point.

"We are playing this game as a qualifying game," Scotland's Vern Cotter said on Thursday. "We are enjoying being in the situation to qualify. We know it's going to be a very tough game. This probably rounds the whole thing up. We've got 80 minutes and we need to put in a very, very good performance."

Samoa's Stephen Betham was defensive about how Samoa and their fellow Pacific Islanders have often been portrayed for their physicality: "We don't train to go out there to hurt people. We go out there to play tough rugby and hard rugby. It's unfortunate that's the way we are seen... The boys know we've got a talent but we haven't shown it. We haven't shown anything all tournament, and it's important for us not just to play for the people back home but ourselves. To prove to ourselves that we can get that talent out there."

"We need to be careful not to fall into any traps," captain Greig Laidlaw said.

"We've got to give credibility and respect to Samoa. If we get our part right, we can cause Samoa problems."

"For a lot of us this is going to be the biggest match of our careers," Scotland number eight David Denton said.

"For most of the people on our team this is our first World Cup, but now we've essentially got a playoff game."

Vern Cotter will be relieved to have first-choice flyhalf Finn Russell available after he missed the South Africa game. The New Zealand-born coach has also recalled hard-running centre Mark Bennett in a near full-strength team.

Samoa coach Stephen Betham, meanwhile, has made seven changes for the Pacific Islanders, fielding new combinations in midfield and among his loose forwards after losing to Japan in their previous game. Rey Lee-Lo and George Pisi will form a new centre pairing, while Maurie Faasavalu, Jack Lam and Alafoti Faosiliva will be together in the back row for the first time.

Samoa: 1-Sakaria Taulafo, 2-Ma'atulimanu Leiataua, 3-Census Johnston, 4-Teofilo Paulo, 5-Kane Thompson, 6-Maurie Faasavalu, 7-Jack Lam, 8- Alafoti Faosiliva, 9-Kahn Fotuali'i (captain), 10-Tusi Pisi, 11-Fa'atoina Autagavaia, 12-Rey Lee-Lo, 13-George Pisi, 14-Paul Perez, 15-Tim Nanai-Williams

Replacements: 16-Motu Matu'u, 17-Viliamu Afatia, 18-Anthony Perenise, 19-Faifili Levave, 20-Vavae Tuilagi, 21-Vavao Afemai, 22-Patrick Faapale, 23-Ken Pisi

Scotland: 1-Alasdair Dickinson, 2-Ross Ford, 3-Willem Nel, 4-Richie Gray, 5-Jonny Gray, 6-Ryan Wilson, 7-John Hardie, 8-David Denton; 9-Greig Laidlaw (captain), 10-Finn Russell, 11-Tommy Seymour, 12-Matt Scott, 13-Mark Bennett, 14-Sean Maitland, 15-Stuart Hogg

Replacements: 16-Fraser Brown, 17-Gordon Reid, 18-Jon Welsh, 19-Tim Swinson, 20-Josh Strauss, 21-Henry Pyrgos, 22-Peter Horne, 23-Sean Lamont

This will be the third World Cup meeting between the sides; Scotland won both previous fixtures between the sides in the competition by margins of 15+ points, scoring three tries in each game.

Samoa picked up their first ever win against Scotland when these sides last met, triumphing 27-17 in a quadrangular series match in 2013.

Alesana Tuilagi, who is banned for this match, picked up two tries in that win and has scored three in three matches against the Scots in total.

Scotland have failed to reach 20 points in any of their last four games against Samoa, scoring just six tries in total in these matches.

Scotland’s defeat to Samoa in 2013 was the last time they lost to a non-Tier One team; three of their last four defeats to non-Tier One opposition have come against Pacific Island nations (Samoa, Tonga & Fiji).

A win for Scotland would take them into the quarter-finals for the first time since 2007; 2011 was the only time Scotland have failed to make the quarter finals.

A defeat for Samoa in this game would be their third at this tournament; just once have they lost three Pool games in the same tournament (2007).

Samoa have not managed to score more than two tries in any of their last six RWC games, crossing for just seven tries in total in that run.

Scotland have scored a try in each of their last 15 Tests, their best run since scoring in 22 Tests between 1998 and 2000; a try in this game would equal their second best run of try scoring ever (16 games).

Richie Gray (37/37) and Alasdair Dickinson (29/29) are yet to miss a tackle between them at this year’s tournament, no one else has made more tackles without missing at least one.