The essential is safe. On Monday, September 30, Scotland won against Samoa, a 34-0 win in their race for the quarter-finals of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

The Scots, revived by the surprise victory of Japan against Ireland (19-12) Saturday, must now start again against Russia on 9 October. Before the shock against the Japanese, which will look like an eighth final, October 13.

After the defeat against Ireland (27-3), where he had been outclassed in all areas, the XV thistle had anyway really no choice but to pocket five points at the expense of the players Pacific.

The bonus after the suspense

But it was complicated! The Scots took 30 minutes to enter the match and waited for the 75th to register their fourth try, synonymous with bonus.

Before that, the men of Gregor Townsend have certainly abandoned many balloons en route, especially because of the humidity, but they were much more enterprising than against Ireland. Just like Finn Russell, once again decisive on the first two tries, with a sublime kick in the corner, directly in the arms of Sean Maitland (31st), then a breakthrough alone, concluded by Greig Laidlaw (35th). ).

And even if their forwards were not sovereign, the WP Nel pillar in mind, the Scots have shown more willpower.

Sign of a certain confidence found, the back Stuart Hogg (38th) even tried a drop of 40 m, the first managed by Scotland since Duncan Weir against Italy in 2014.

Recurrent indiscipline

Plummeted in their hopes of joining the quarter-finals, the Samoans, themselves, were too naive to hope to upset the hierarchy (32 tackles missed, 10 balloons lost). They also earned winger Ed Fidow their third (59th) and fourth (75th) yellow cards in two World Cup matches.

It is now safe to say that the islanders will assume the role of justices of the peace in this pool: they have two games left, against Japan on October 5th, then against Ireland a week later.

With AFP