Beautiful scenes.

Gavin Hastings
Former Scotland full-back on BBC Radio 5 live

Said Madrid: There is no hiding place today: The scots need and must deliver. 

Andrew Priestley: This afternoon's crucial game will stand Scotland in good stead for the knockout stages. Every game is a must-win now.  

Assuming they do beat Samoa, Andrew...

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Samoa are angry. And there are few people you want to play rugby against less than angry Samoans.

Winger Alesana Tuilagi was initially banned for five weeks after his knee struck Japan's Harumichi Tatekawa in their loss to Japan last weekend. It was reduced to two weeks on appeal, but that makes no difference for this match.

It looked largely accidental and little different from the incident in which England's Tom Wood kicked Wales's Liam Williams unconscious. Wood escaped any punishment.

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Northampton Saints' Kahn Fotuali'i will captain a Samoa side showing seven changes for their final Rugby World Cup game against Scotland in Newcastle.

The scrum-half takes over with London Irish back-row Ofisa Treviranus not included in the match-day squad.

Fotuali'i is one of seven British-based players named by Samoa head coach Stephen Betham in his starting XV.

Samoa: Tim Nanai-Williams (Ricoh Black Rams), Paul Perez (Coastal Sharks), George Pisi (Northampton Saints), Rey Lee-Lo (Cardiff Blues), Fa'atoina Autagavaia (Nevers), Tusi Pisi (Suntory Sungoliath), Kahn Fotuali'i (Northampton Saints, captain); Sakaria Taulafo (Stade Francais), Ma'atulimanu Leiataua (Aurillac), Census Johnston (Toulouse), Teofilo Paulo (Benetton Treviso), Kane Thompson (Newcastle Falcons), Maurie Faasavalu (Bath), Jack Lam (Bristol), Alafoti Faosiliva (Bath).

Replacements: Motu Matu'u (Wellington Hurricanes), Viliamu Afatia (Agen), Anthony Perenise (Bristol), Faifili Levave (Wellington Lions), Vavae Tuilagi (Carcassonne), Vavao Afemai (Manu 7s), Patrick Faapale (Manu 7s), Ken Pisi (Northampton Saints).

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Full-back Stuart Hogg got burned by referee Nigel Owens during Scotland's defeat by South Africa at St James' Park after going to ground too easily.

"Dive like that again and you can come back here in two weeks and play,"said the quick-witted Welsh whistler.

Hogg has football in his genes however. 

"My granny’s granny was the sister of George Best’s great-grandfather,” Hogg revealed a few years ago.

Which World Rugby used as an excuse to roll out this anecdote about George Best drinking the night away with French rugby legend Jean-Pierre Rives., external

It's like Superstars having an alcohol round.... 

What more incentive do you need, than that teaser from the Harry Potter author.

In the world of Harry Potter, apparently Sirius Black's birthday is a bit of a mystery.

Image source, Gett

Finn Russell, Stuart Hogg, John Hardie, Sean Maitland and Ross Ford have recovered from injury to start for Scotland against Samoa.

Hooker Ford had been a major doubt with a head knock picked up during the Rugby World Cup defeat by South Africa.

Centre Mark Bennett also returns to a side showing seven changes after missing out against the Springboks.

Scotland: Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Maitland (London Irish), Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Scott (Edinburgh), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors). Greig Laidlaw (Gloucester, captain); Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh), Ross Ford (Edinburgh), WP Nel (Edinburgh), R Gray (Castres), J Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors), John Hardie (unattached), David Denton (Edinburgh).

Replacements: Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors), Jon Welsh (Newcastle Falcons), Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors), Josh Strauss (Glasgow Warriors), Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors), Peter Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors).

Plenty of Scots have made the trip over the border for this one.

Let's check out the 23 that matter.

BBC Radio 5 Live

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You can listen to full commentary on BBC Radio 5 live by clicking the 'Live coverage' tab on this page. Joining Andrew Cotter in the commentary box at St James' Park is former Scotland captain Gavin Hastings

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They have beaten only the USA so far. Will we see the real Samoa today?

So this is how the qualification cookie crumbles this afternoon:

Beat Samoa this afternoon and Scotland are through to a quarter-final against either Wales or Australia.

Lose and the unthinkable suddenly gets very real.

Defeat against Samoa, combined with victory for Japan against United States - who have lost all three of their matches so far - on Sunday would book the Brave Blossoms' last-eight place at the Scots' expense.

Image source, Getty Images

If Japan had opted to play it safe, to know their place, to kick for goal, to take three points and the plaudits that would have followed a draw against South Africa, they would already be packing their bags for home.

As it is, a place in the last eight is still possible.

And Scotland are effectively playing knock-out rugby a week early. 

Image source, Getty Images

"Tatekawa...Mafi...Here we go! Hesketh! Karne Hesketh!"

It was the most thrilling, unexpected, rub-your-eyes, scratch-your-head, peel-yourself-off-the-ceiling moment, external of this World Cup. Of any World Cup.

And the ripples are still being felt a fortnight later.