Scotland in quarter final, Japan goes home

A match-winning try by Greig Laidlaw carried Scotland into the World Cup quarter-finals with a nail-biting 36-33 victory over Samoa on Saturday that ended Japan's hopes of a historic place in the last eight.

The Scotland captain had kept his team in the game until his try with five penalties and contributed a match total of 26 points -- a personal Test best for him.

His converted try lifted Scotland to 36-24 with five minutes to play and although Samoa came back with a late try of their own they could not close the gap.

Scotland were chasing the game for most of the 80 minutes and did not start taking control until Samoa's discipline began to falter.

As the penalties flowed Laidlaw cashed in, securing the lead for the first time 12 minutes into the second-half then sealing the outcome with his late try.

It was a match of titanic collisions, and played at a pace that led to constant turnovers from wayward passes and handling errors For most of the game the mainly Scottish crowd packed into St James' Park were treated to repeated scenes of Samoan muscle splintering a fragile Scotland defence.

In the high-octane first half, five tries and a World Cup record 49 points were scored with Samoa holding a 26-23 at the turn.

Scotland's narrow escape qualified them second behind South Africa in Pool B, a safe six points clear of Japan who play their final pool game against the United States on Sunday.

Samoa go home empty handed, finishing fourth in their pool like fellow Pacific islanders Fiji and Tonga and all three now having to qualify for the 2019 World Cup.

Vern Cotter's side, returning to the World Cup knockout stages for the first time since 2007, have struggled to start confidently in each match of the tournament.

(AFP)