Samoa are big so we must be smart, says captain Ross Ford

Published on 22/06/2012 00:00

SCOTLAND captain Ross Ford has challenged his side to show the technical skill to nullify Samoa’s physical threat as they bid to complete a Southern Hemisphere clean sweep at Apia Park early tomorrow morning.

Scotland are bidding to round off a successful tour which has brought victories over Australia and Fiji, with a third win. The Samoans will pose a significant challenge, though, as they have a host of Europe-based big names and boast a huge front five which is designed to win the set-piece battle to allow them to play an organised and controlled game.

“They are big, so that means that we have got to be technically smart,” said Ford, who made no secret of his irritation at the way his side surrendered possession in the third quarter against Fiji last Saturday. “We are not going to stick any more meat on over the next couple of days, so we have to be quick and we have to be technically very good to compete against them.

“It is going to be a tough game. Samoa have got a lot of strengths, a lot of the European players are back. Census Johnston plays for Toulouse and is a good scrummager, the Clermont boy [Tii Paulo] is hooker and the Wasps boy [Sakaria Taulafo] is at loosehead, they are big boys and good scrummagers, so we will have to be right up there to compete against them.

“They are a lot more structured than Fiji but still have the ability to break defences with their big men.

“They will be very physical, so it will be a tough challenge but it is one that the boys are looking forward to. A win would round the tour off well.”

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