Scotland secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup by overcoming a valiant Samoa outfit at St James' Park in Newcastle this afternoon.
Samoa led by three points after the highest-scoring first half of the tournament before the match got much more nervy after the break.
In the end, Scotland clung on for a three-point win to advance to the last eight, where they will face Australia, who topped Pool A by battling past Wales this evening.
Matt Scott started at centre for the Dark Blues and Sports Mole grabbed a word with the Edinburgh man after the final whistle.
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Can you remember a game of two halves quite like that? The first half was electric but then it really tightened up after the break.
"I don't think I remember playing a game where it was almost like defending was optional. Every time we had the ball we were making ground, but every time they had the ball they were cutting us open.
"At the time on the pitch sometimes things just happen so fast and you're like 'whoa, what's going on here? What's going on here?'
"We knew they were going to come out hard and we just had to stick with them, then try to edge ahead and stay there. I suppose that's what ended up happening."
Were you surprised by how dangerous they were with the ball in the first half?
"I wasn't too surprised with their style of play, but I certainly didn't expect to give up as many points as we did. We knew they were going to run everything; I just had more confidence in our ability to stop them, but we didn't and it ended up being a very loose game.
"I suppose it was great for you guys and the neutral, but for us, defensively, we'll have to look at ourselves over the next few days and fix some things."
What changed in the second half then?
"We stuck to the gameplan that we set out to do much better and it eventually began to work. We wanted to keep it tight and kick our goals when we got them, keep the scoreboard ticking over and we did end up getting the opportunity to do that.
"Once we stopped giving them turnover ball and easy ball, things got a bit better."
How about your captain Greig Laidlaw? He scored 26 points today and is now the leading scorer at the tournament.
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"Greig's a fantastic leader and it was so fitting that he scored the winning try. I'm so chuffed for him. He epitomises the whole Scotland team in terms of his work ethic and he's so passionate about playing for Scotland.
"He also gets the balance right between being passionate and keeping a cool head in times of adversity, which he showed on the pitch today.
You've shown climpses of real quality throughout this tournament, but not quite strung it together over the whole 80 minutes. Surely consistency is the biggest thing to improve going into the knockouts?
"Definitely. The first couple of games (against Japan and USA) we pulled away in the second half in both. Last week (against South Africa) we weren't really at the races and then this week - we're obviously a better second-half team. I don't know what it is.
"Of course we've got to look at starting the game better and not conceding as many points. As professional rugby players, all we can do is go back, look at the video and try to work out what we can do better.
Physically, how's everyone doing? Stuart Hogg came off again today hobbling a bit...
"I think he's fine. There'll be bumps and bruises, I've certainly got some and a big gash on my knee. It's just one of those physical games against big boys. It'll be sore tomorrow, but it doesn't hurt as much when you know you've won."
Pascal Lemesre
