Video highlights: Scots beat Samoa to reach Rugby World Cup quarters

Scotland have advanced into the World Cup quarter-finals after beating Samoa 33-36.

At 23-16 after 28 minutes, the script was already in tatters when Jonny Gray leapt above everyone else at a five-metre lineout for the pack to get involved in the wrestle they had been trying to avoid, rumbling Samoa backwards and over the line.

Referee Chris Pollock completed the rout by awarding a penalty try right on the final buzzer.

But he praised his players for digging deep to get the job done.

A pair of Laidlaw wrestled back the lead with a pair of quickfire penalties after the 50th minute, with the scrum-half then scooting over for a try in the 74th minute to give Scotland a two-score lead against the tiring Samoans. Owen Farrell, playing in an unfamiliar role at inside center, converted all three.

Pockets of flag-waving Uruguayans inside the City of Manchester Stadium helped them along.

After two spurned opportunities to kick for goal the Scots put their faith in Laidlaw, who knocked over two consecutive penalties to put his side in front for the first time at 29-26.

The rendition of “God Save the Queen” was impressively loud and followed by a huge roar.

It’s the Americans’ last chance to leave the tournament with a win.

“I wasn’t too surprised with their style of play, but I certainly didn’t expect to give up as many points as we did”.

EVEN for the proudest of Scots, there must be times when you’re not exactly in a tearing hurry to be confronted by tartan-bedecked jokers with Braveheart faces and C U Jimmy bunnets who’ve just come down from their wee bit hills and glens or more likely jumped in a taxi, boring the driver with their meadow-mowing boasts.

Laidlaw admitted that his team had done done it the hard way. Scotland had been brought to the wire by Samoa and the dizzying brush with death had begun nearly from the get-go.

In the first half, that’s exactly what happened. Scotland’s first-half sickness had struck again despite their talk all week of putting the fixes in place.

Their indiscipline in the heart of the battle was horrific. Matt Giteau missed a long-range shot for Australia with the last action of the half. The loser will play South Africa. Watch this mega event Rugby World Cup 2015 lives online at rugbywc2015live.com. A win against Australia really would be the icing on the cake.

The win ensured Scotland go into the quarter-finals with South Africa from Pool B while Samoa go home empty handed with only a sole win over the United States to show for the tournament.

“I must say we showed a lot of character to come back after the Japan loss”.

Defeat for Samoa, meanwhile, means they can not finish inside the pool’s top three and will have to qualify for the 2019 World Cup. In each of their four pool games, Scotland struggled early on to impose themselves on the game.

Samoa then thought they had scored a fourth try through loose-head prop Sakari Taulafo, but it was chalked off for an illegal clear-out of the Scotland skipper on the try-line. Tusi Pisi strokes it over from 35 out. Scotland scrumhalf Greig Laidlaw has booted 13 points.

Jones’ side lit up the competition when they stunned South Africa three weeks ago in their Pool B opener. “The punters will be saying Japan are the favourites, but every underdog has their day”. Japan had only ever won one match at the Rugby World Cup before this tournament. “And when a team believes 100 percent in what they are doing, that is a very powerful thing”, he said. “It’s all about us, though”.

“In the same way as everyone else I think we have done really well, but for me I see how since we left Japan the squad has become closer”. Coach Vern Cotter has also recalled centre Mark Bennett in a near full-strength team.

On the field, discipline continues to be the Samoans’ biggest issue. They were delivered as part of World Rugby’s player welfare initiative. A lot of work for the St James’ Park groundsmen ahead of next weekend’s football game between Newcastle and Norwich. They were fast, accurate and effective in their tactics to score three first-half tries, catching Scotland off-guard in defence.