RUGBY TEST MATCH: Samoans in Scotland

27.11.2010
Samoa v Scotland in Aberdeen

Venue: Pittodrie Stadium

Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)

Preview
Scotland has dragged the Samoans well into the north for this the final international rugby test match of the November series. The Islanders trained yesterday in snow and for or some of the Samoans it was their first experience of snow.

This will be an interesting rugby test. Samoa are without a win so far on tour but they have come close. They pushed Ireland in their first test match and then performed very well against the mighty English. A test win today will boost their efforts leading up to next years Rugby World Cup.

For Scotland they are in a strange position. They have everything to lose after defeating World Champions South Africa last weekend. Another win, and it needs to be a good win, will help erase the nightmare of the result against New Zealand.

Alan Jacobson and Sean Lamont will both play their 50th test for Scotland.

Other Previews
http://www.samoaobserver.ws/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29751:manu-needs&catid=34:sports&Itemid=54

Last Five Encounters
20.11.2005 Scotland 18-11 at Murrayfield
04.06.2004 Scotland 38-3 in Wellington
18.11.2000 Scotland 31-8 at Murrayfield
20.10.1999 Scotland 35-20 at Murrayfield
18.11.1995 Drawn 15-15 at Murrayfield

Samoa has never defeated Scotland at Murrayfield.

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table-Scotland 4th, Samoa 12th

IRB Ranking Points
Scotland 81.20, Samoa 74.02

Prediction: Scotland by 10 points

Teams

Scotland
15 Hugo Southwell (Stade Francais, France) 56 caps, 8 tries, 40 points
14 Nikki Walker (Neath Swansea Ospreys, Wales) 17 caps, 4 tries, 20 points
13 Joseph Ansbro (Northampton Saints, England) 1 cap
12 Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors) 27 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
11 Sean Lamont (Llanelly Scarlets) 49 caps, 7 tries, 35 points
10 Daniel Parks (Cardiff Blues, Wales) 55 caps, 4 tries, 10 conv., 40 pen., 12 dg, 196 points
9 Rory Lawson, Capt. (Gloucester, England) 21 caps
8 Richard Vernon (Glasgow Warriors) 5 caps
7 John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors) 22 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
6 Kelly Brown (Saracens, England) 39 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
5 Richard Gray (Glasgow Warriors) 5 caps
4 Nathan Hines (Leinster, Ireland) 66 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
3 Euan Murray (Northampton Saints, England) 34 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh) 42 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
1 Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh) 49 caps
Replacements
16 Douglas Hall (Glasgow Warriors) 32 caps
17 Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors) 9 caps
18 James Hamilton (Gloucester, England) 30 caps, 1 try, 5 points
19 Ross Rennie (Edinburgh) 3 caps
20 Michael Blair (Edinburgh) 65 caps, 5 tries, 25 points
21 Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors) 1 cap
22 Max Evans (Glasgow Warriors) 14 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
Head Coach: Andy Robinson

Adapted from http://www.scotlandrugbyteam.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2143&Itemid=9

Samoa Rugby Squad not available