Highlights from the game of the weekend so far, as Samoa and Scotland went toe to toe in a thrilling contest at St James Park in Newcastle. Samoa had a chance of helping Japan's quarter finals ambitions, but came up short, meaning Scotland have qualified.
They will play Australia, while Samoa, despite playing some thrilling rugby in their final match, leave the RWC after a disappointing campaign, with just one win over the USA.
I hate to be 'that guy' but did Laidlaw not blatantly knock on before his try? Or did it come off Denton's foot?
:)
Can we have another Plate play off for those that don't win this Plate play off too?
Everyones a winner!
What a game. What made it so tense was the repercussions for Japan. Without disrespecting Scotland, I suspect most people were cheering Samoa on to get Japan into the play-offs. I was.
I'd happily watch a Plate play-off between the third placed teams. I mean that generally, not just to elongate England's participation...
I had my eye on Scotland during the 6N and the Summer intl's, I wasn't quite sure how they'd get on though. I said a while back that I felt there was something more to them this time (in the past they were always "almost there"..."one more game" etc...), but given the competition in the pool, SA, Japan, Samoa, USA, I wasn't sure how Scotland would fair. USA had been doing very well in the past, at least making all the right noises, and given their population size, it was only a matter of time before the right people walked in. Samoa are traditionally dangerous, I suspect that Scotland were keen to hear Tuilagi was banned (unfairly in my mind), however Samoa seemed to have depth there! Japan are the team that I think everyone suddenly became supporters of, the likeable team of the tournament... perhaps not to the Yarpies...
This game was however quite interesting. Scotland HAD to keep the ball in their hands as it seemed every time Samoa got it, each impact was over the gain line and they just battered their way; slowly, to the try line.
Well done Scotland, commiserations to Samoa.
Sort of makes you want to see an underdog RWC or something... Anyone that didn't qualify goes into new knockout stages, with the winner(s) of that becoming the wildcard(s) and getting thrown back into the big mix... too complicated, but it just seems sad to say goodbye to Japan and all the other hard fighting nations.