Player ratings: Outmuscled
The Scotland side battled to front up to the more physical Samoans and that seemed to be the difference when the Samoans won 27-17.
The Scots were not up for the game and they battled to halt the momentum of the Samoans who ran in three tries to one.
Nick Tatham rates the Scotland players!
15 Greig Tonks
Got into the game more in the second-half but battled at the beginning. A bad kick straight out meant the Samoans were placed on the front foot. Did not have that many opportunities and couldn't front up physically.
4/10
14 Sean Lamont
Lamont was a lot more involved than Visser. Had a number of good carries and finished off a good try for the Scots. Was always looking for work right up until the final whistle.
7/10
13 Alex Dunbar
Was fairly poor on his debut and looked very nervous when played. Got beaten for pace by Alapate Leiua when the Samoans scored their first try.
5/10
12 Matt Scott
Had a poor game to say the least. Bad pass from the centre meant that a try went a begging for the Scots. Battled on defence against the big Samoans.
4/10
11 Tim Visser
Did well on the wing and looked for work. Battled to find opportunities with ball in hand but when he got it made a number of good carries.
6/10
10 Tom Heathcote
A solid debut from the flyhalf. Shaky start but when he got into the game he really looked capable against the big Samoan players. Saved a try and covered solidly on defence. Grew into his role as the game went on.
7/10
9 Greig Laidlaw
Did not control the game as well as he would have liked. Battled behind his pack of forwards and made a few bad decisions early in the second-half – one poor kick killed momentum.
5/10
8 Johnnie Beattie
Was very strong in the contact but lost the ball in contact a couple of times. Had to be a big player for the Scots but was met physically but the Samoan players.
5/10
7 Kelly Brown (captain)
A few strong hits in the first-half of the match and carried well against a physical Samoa side. His ankle injury meant that he was replaced at half-time and fell off the pace towards the end of the half.
6/10
6 Alasdair Strokosch
Two strong carries in the first-half got his side on the front-foot but fell asleep in the second-half when his team needed him to step up and match the Samoans physically. Was a strong contender for man of the match at half-time.
6/10
5 Alastair Kellock
Gave away a few penalties for lazy play at the ruck but carried the ball well for the Scots.
5/10
4 Grant Gilchrist
Was good in the set-piece for the Scots and did well at the line-out. Once again, the Scots battled with the ball in contact and Gilchrest was no exception.
5/10
3 Euan Murray
Had a solid game at the scrum. Was the rock for the Scots and when he went off you could see that they battled at the set-piece without him.
6/10
2 Pat MacArthur
Was injured in the first 15 minutes of the game therefore not enough time to be rated.
1 Alasdair Dickinson
Was good at the scrum and won a penalty at the first scrum of the game. Got a great hand on the ball right on his own line to prevent a try.
5/10
Replacements:
16 Steven Lawrie (on for MacArthur, 16)
Had a great game when he came on for MacArthur early on in the game. Threw well in the line-out and was energetic around the field. Played himself into the starting jersey next week.
7/10
17 Moray Low (on for Dickinson, 66)
Had a fairly good time on the pitch when he came on. Battled a little in the scrums when the Samoans got on the front foot towards the end of the game.
6/10
18 Geoff Cross (on for Murray, 44)
Was quiet when he came on to the field. Was dominated in the scrums and did not offer too much in the loose play.
5/10
19 Jim Hamilton (on for Kellock,66)
Trying to work his way back into the starting line-up and when he came on to the field tried to make an impact but his side was on the back foot.
5/10
20 Ryan Wilson (on for Brown, 41)
Did all of the hard yards when he came on for the injured captain. Was solid but did not offer anything extra.
6/10
21 Henry Pyrgos (on for Laidlaw, 70)
Not enough time to be rated.
22 Peter Horne (on for Heathcote, 59)
Missed the tackle that changed the game when he missed the tackle on Tuilagi when he went over for his second try of the day. Tried to make up for it but tried too hard.
4/10
23 Duncan Taylor (on for Visser, 70)
Not enough time to be rated.
