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While Scotland play their third and final tour game in the Pacific, following a win over the Maori All Blacks and the loss last weekend to Fiji in Suva, Samoa will be playing their first Test since the Pacific Nations Cup in September 2024 on Friday, 18th July. The match will be played in New Zealand at Eden Park.
This is the first time the two sides have played against each other since 2019, when Scotland won 34-0 during the Rugby World Cup. The curtain-rasier before the Test on Friday is the Classic All Blacks playing the Pacifika All Stars.
Scotland slipped down to eighth in the World Rugby rankings after their loss, and Samoa are ranked 13th.
From Gregor Townsend’s Scotland squad, Rory Sutherland, Ewan Ashman and Darcy Graham have been called up for the British & Irish Lions in Australia - all three were in Scotland's squad in New Zealand preparing for the fixture against Samoa. Sutherland and Ashman will start the match against Samoa in the front row along with Elliot Millar Mills.
Edinburgh Rugby winger Graham has scored 31 tries across 47 international caps, while Glasgow Warriors loosehead prop Sutherland made six appearances for The British & Irish on their previous tour. Edinburgh Rugby hooker Ewan Ashman made his Scotland debut in November 2021 against Australia and has earned 28 caps to date.
This is Scotland’s first match in Auckland since the 2011 Rugby World Cup, and Townsend has made five changes to the team that lost against Fiji last weekend. He was disappointed by last week’s loss saying they didn't execute their game and the discipline cost them.
“The incentive this weekend is to bounce back after defeat and show who we are and our identity as a rugby team against a tough opponent.”
There is all change in the Scottish centres as Tom Jordan has been ruled out of the match after fracturing his hand. Rory Hutchinson and Stafford McDowall step in and replace Jordan and Cameron Redpath. Arron Reed starts on the wing in place of Darcy Graham who will not feature.
Prop Fin Richardson could win his first Scottish cap from the bench.
The Manu Samoa squad for the first tests of 2025 were confirmed some time ago by new Head Coach Tusi Pisi. He took over the national team head coach role in April 2025, replacing Mahonri Schwalger after coaching in Japan, but he was involved at the PNC too last year.
Loose forward Theo McFarland was confirmed as captain, and the training squad included 11 uncapped players, and most notable were the inclusion of Niko Jones, son of All Black Michael Jones, and Jacob Umaga, son of former Samoa international Mike Umaga, who are both in line for debuts against Scotland. The 23 selected include a number with experience formerly or currently in Major League Rugby (MLR).
For the matchday squad against Scotland, there are three debut starters and three more on the bench for Samoa. In the run-on 15 and earning their first caps for Samoa are hooker Pita Anae-Ah Sue (MLR - Houston Sabercats), Jacob Umaga (Benetton Treviso) at flyhalf, and Latrell Ah Kiong at fullback.
Among the reserves set to earn a first cap are; Kaynan Siteine-Tua, Niko Jones, and Connor Tupai (MLR - San Diego Legion). Tupai was formerly at Northampton Saints.
Samoa Starting XV (1-15) Aki Seiuli, Pita Anae Ah-Sue, Michael Alaalatoa, Benjamin Nee-Nee, Samuel Slade, Theo McFarland, Jonah Mau'u, Taleni Seu, Melani Matavao, Jacob Umaga, Tomasi Alosio, Henry Taefu, Duncan Paia'aua, Tuna Tuitama, Latrell Smiler Ah-Kiong
Samoa Replacements (16-23) Luteru Tolai, Kaynan Siteine-Tua, Marco Fepulea'i, Michael Curry, Niko Jones, Iakopo Petelo-Mapu, Connor Tupai, Rodney Iona
Scotland Starting XV (1-15) Rory Sutherland, Ewan Ashman, Elliot Millar Mills, Gregor Brown, Grant Gilchrist, Andy Onyeama-Christie, Rory Darge, Matt Fagerson, Jamie Dobie, Fergus Burke, Arron Reed, Stafford McDowall, Rory Hutchinson, Kyle Steyn, Kyle Rowe
Scotland Replacements (16-23) George Turner, Nathan McBeth, Finlay Richardson, Cameron Henderson, Marshall Sykes, Ben Muncaster, George Horne, Adam Hastings
