RUGBY:ANDY ROBINSON is aware Scotland must be at their very best to emerge from today's match against Samoa in Aberdeen (2.30pm) unscathed and with a fifth win from six Tests.
Scotland play Samoa in the third autumn Test at Pittodrie, where snow has provided a hostile welcome for the Pacific islanders, who pushed Ireland and England close in recent weeks.
With the low of the 49-3 humbling to New Zealand and the high of last week’s 21-17 defeat of world champions South Africa fresh in the memory, head coach Robinson cautioned against taking Samoa lightly.
He said: “We’ve got to focus on the next game. Whatever has happened before has gone, the key for us is getting our preparation absolutely spot on for our next opponents, very dangerous opponents.
“Every team we play we’ve got to be at our very best to beat.
“It’s vital that each individual takes care of their own performance and focuses on that and brings their number one game to the party and then as a collective we can pull that together.
“If anybody under-performs that will put us under huge pressure.
“We need to respect the level of physicality Samoa bring and after last week’s performance we’ve got to bring that physicality to our game as well.”
Under-soil heating at Pittodrie should lessen the impact of the inclement weather, but the playing surface is narrower than the wide expanse of Murrayfield, meaning Scotland will have no option than to take on Samoa head on.
“It’s going to be very difficult to get outside,” added Robinson. “We’ve got to play through the defence and develop the offloading.
“If we can get the support runners running hard there then we’ll be able to open them up.
“We’ve got to be able to play at pace and intensity and ask questions of the Samoan defence.
“Through hard work off the ball as well as on the ball, tries can be scored.”
Robinson made one enforced change to the starting XV which began the Springboks clash, with lock Scott MacLeod ruled out with a rib injury and number eight Richie Vernon returning to the side.
Rory Lawson again leads the team, having claimed an impressive victory over the 2007 world champions in his first Test as captain last week.
Samoa endured a blizzard in their final training session yesterday.
Hooker and captain Mahonri Schwalger said: “We’re expecting a great game from the Scottish, but we want to finish this tour with a bang.
“We haven’t had a win yet. We came close in a couple of games, but just the odd mistake let us down.”
SCOTLAND: H Southwell (Stade Francais); N Walker (Ospreys), J Ansbro (Northampton), G Morrison (Glasgow), S Lamont (Scarlets); D Parks (Cardiff Blues), R Lawson (Gloucester); A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), R Ford (Edinburgh), E Murray (Northampton), N Hines (Leinster), R Gray (Glasgow), K Brown (Saracens), R Vernon (Glasgow), J Barclay (Glasgow).
Replacements: D Hall (Glasgow), M Low (Glasgow), J Hamilton (Gloucester), R Rennie (Edinburgh), M Blair (Edinburgh), R Jackson (Glasgow), M Evans (Glasgow).
SAMOA: P Williams; D Lemi, G Pisi, S Mapusua, A Tuilagi; T Lavea, K Fotualii; S Taulafo, M Schwalger (capt), C Johnston, F Levi, K Thompson, O Treviranus, M Salavea, G Stowers. Replacements: T Paulo, A Perenise, J Tekori, D Leo, A Aiono, J Polu, F Otto.
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia).
