Scotland got what they needed in the oven of the Kobe-Misaki Stadium, but only just as two second-half penalty tries secured the necessary bonus point against Samoa to keep their Rugby World Cup hopes alive.
The Scots were never in any doubt of winning against the Islanders, but four tries did not come easy with multiple handling errors in the stifling atmosphere under the roof of the indoor 32,000-capacity stadium.
First half scores from Sean Maitland and Greig Laidlaw – his first international try for four years – put the Scots in good shape at the break but they laboured for the two more they needed, and needed the watchful eye of the TMO to secure them.
Both were penalty tries, after Samoa’s Ed Fidow twice illegally prevented tries being scored, first by Fraser Brown and with five minutes left by Maitland. The wing saw two yellow cards become a red for his trouble.
It was a much better performance by Scotland but against unquestionably poorer opposition, and the display won’t have got the Japanese camp too concerned about the final pool game to come on October 13.
But the decision to play a new back row was vindicated, with Jamie Ritchie, Magnus Bradbury and Blade Thomson all outstanding, and there were some flashes of quality from Finn Russell and Stuart Hogg.
Outdoor temperatures were at 28 degrees just before kick-off, but the humidity inside the Kobe Misaki Stadium’s closed roof lifted that well into the 30s, an oppressive and alien atmosphere for the Scots, and probably at least partly responsible for the numerous handling errors in the first half.
However in the last ten minutes of the half the Scots finally got some rhythm going and into a commanding lead at the break.
Laidlaw’s penalty in eight minutes when Samoa ran offside was not much reward for a strong opening, with tackles from Grant Gilchrist and Bradbury setting the tone and Darcy Graham beating men on one run, although he had Chris Harris looping unmarked outside him when he cut inside near the 22.
The Scots couldn’t hold on to the sweaty ball at key moments to build some real pressure on a Samoan side that were game but hardly threatening, until one Russell fumble in midfield had the Scots scrambling to clear safely, Ritchie ending the danger with a turnover on the deck.
A dreadful Laidlaw pass to Gilchrist ruined the good work of a 25 metre maul, but Scotland were not to be denied much longer.
A high kick from Russell was regained by Graham and Hogg, and when the ball came back the stand-off’s beautifully flighted cross kick to the other wing was perfect for Maitland to take and score despite Tim Nanai-Williams’ desperate tackle.
Just four minutes later the Scots had breathing space, Russell squirting through a gap to offload to Ritchie, who found Laidlaw on his left. The veteran seemed to hesitate as defenders came in, but they stopped as well and he was able to bounce off Nanai-Williams and go over for his first Scotland try since he last played Samoa in the Rugby World Cup, four years ago.
Laidlaw converted both tries and then there was a real rarity as Samoa cleared their lines after a probing Hogg kick, Maitland taking the clearance and feeding the full-back to drop a majestic goal from 40 metres – the first by Scotland in five years – for a 20-0 lead.
Scotland should have added another before half-time but saw three mauls repelled before Laidlaw was again astray with a feed.
It took the Scots a while to get going again in the second half, but steals by Thomson and Ritchie again kept Samoa from threatening before they regained control.
Johnson and Graham couldn’t hold passes close to the Samoan line but the penalties were coming Scotland’s way now and after a series of mauls, the Islanders’ wing Ed Fidow came in at the side to stop replacement hooker Fraser Brown scoring.
After a long TMO discussion, Fidow was correctly yellow-carded and Scotland given the penalty try.
That left them more than 20 minutes to get the fourth try for the bonus point, but the ten minutes with Fidow absent didn’t produce a score, Gordon Reid fumbling close to the posts on Scotland’s most promising chance.
Things were starting to get a bit edgy until the Scots neatly worked a gap for Maitland to escape down the left, and Fidow again illegally charged him into touch at the corner flag without using his arms in the tackle.
Referee Pascal Gauzere again needed another long look, but again correctly gave the penalty try and a second yellow to the Samoan wing.
Samoa tried desperately to get something in the late going but the Scots forced another turnover near their line and completed the shutout.
Scotland: S Hogg; D Graham, C Harris, S Johnson, S Maitland; F Russell, G Laidlaw; A Dell, S McInally (capt), WP Nel; G Gilchrist, J Gray; M Bradbury, J Ritchie, B Thomson. Replacements: F Brown for McInally 52, G Reid for Dell 13, Z Fagerson for Nel 58, S Cummings for Gilchrist 52, R Wilson for Bradbury 73, G Horne for Laidlaw 64, A Hastings for Russell 76, D Taylor for Johnson 64.
Samoa: T Nanai-Williams; B Tuatagaloa, A Leiua, H Taefu, E Fidow; T Pisi, M Matavao; L Mulipola, R Niuia, M Alaalatoa; T Paulo, K Le’aupepe; C Vui, TJ Iaone, J Lam (capt). Replacements: S Lam for Niuia 55, P Alo-Emile for Alaalatoa 47, J Lay for Mulipola 44, P Faasalele for Paulo 51, J Tyrell, P Cowley for Matavao 71, U Seuteni for Pisi 55, K Fonotia for Tuatagaloa 45.
Ref: P Gauzere (FFR)
