Referee Jordan Way peeps his whistle and we are off...

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

Well I've never seen a Scotland anthem like that.

We got a little prelude before the singer piped up. Unfortunately, the Scotland players and fans were halfway through the second verse.

Rory Darge and Grant Glichrist see the funny side. Fin Richardson looks perplexed. Elliot Millar Mills and Rory Sutherland look raging.

All in good fun.

Who are the danger men for the side ranked 13th in the world, just one place below Wales?

One of them is making his debut. Fly-half Jacob Umaga, nephew of All Black great Tana, won an England cap at 22 years-old, such was his promise at Wasps.

But in 2022, he moved to Benetton in Italy and is now eligible for Samoa via ancestry. He could play a big part.

Michael Alaalatoa has a familiar surname. The tighthead is the brother of Alan, who will start against the British & Irish Lions tomorrow.

Theo McFarland captains in the back-row - he plies his trade for Saracens - while in the centres, Duncan Paia-aua made a couple of starts for Toulon this season.

Image source, Getty Images

Scotland must beat Samoa in "emphatic fashion" if they are to salvage their summer tour, according to former Glasgow Warriors scrum-half Colin Gregor.

Last week's loss against Fiji was a punishing match in terms of the result, the collisions and also world ranking points. Scotland's hopes of a favourable draw for the 2027 World Cup took a significant hit.

"Win," Gregor told the BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast, when asked what Scotland need for this morning's match. "And in emphatic fashion.

"You're back in Auckland, playing Samoa, who don't offer the same threats as Fiji but who still have enough quality to make it uncomfortable if you get it wrong.

"The vultures are always circling, but coming back from this tour, you'd hope you'd get a couple of good wins and unity has grown in the squad.

"Two losses is not worth thinking about."

Earlier this week, Gregor Townsend urged his Scotland side to make sure their summer tour is remembered as a success by beating Samoa.

The Scots beat Maori All Blacks 29-26 in Whangarei but lost 29-14 to Fiji in Suva last weekend.

"Tours are remembered in part by what you experience off the field but also by how well you play and the results you produce," said Townsend.

"There was definitely a better feeling around the camp after the Maori game than there was after the Fiji game. We want to finish this tour with a real strong performance and finish on a high from a playing point of view."

Image source, Getty Images

Scotland's head coach believes he is fielding his strongest possible XV.

Kyle Steyn moves from left to right wing as Arron Reed comes in at 11 while Rory Hutchinson and Stafford McDowall make up a new centre partnership.

In the pack, Gregor Brown comes into the second row and Andy Onyeama-Christie takes over at blind-side flanker.

Tight-head Fin Richardson is a potential debutant off the bench, with experienced half-backs George Horne and Adam Hastings also listed as replacements.

Darcy Graham was red-carded in Saturday's loss to Fiji and has since been summoned to join up with the British and Irish Lions, while Tom Jordan and Jamie Ritchie were already ruled out of Friday's Test. Lock Marshall Sykes drops to the bench as Cameron Redpath misses out.

Loose-head prop Rory Sutherland and hooker Ewan Ashman will join up with the British and Irish Lions squad touring Australia after featuring against Samoa.

Image source, Getty Images

Samoa: Ah Kiong, Tuitama, Paia'aua, Taefu, Alosio, Umaga, Matavao; Seiuli, Sue, Alaalatoa, Nee-Nee, Slade, McFarland (capt), Mau'u, Seu.

Replacements: Tolai, Siteine- Tua, Fepuleai, Curry, Jones, Mapu, Tupa'i, Iona.

Scotland: Rowe, Steyn, Hutchinson, McDowall, Reed, Burke, Dobie; Sutherland, Ashman, Millar Mills, Brown, Gilchrist, Onyeama-Christie, Darge (capt), Fagerson.

Replacements: Turner, McBeth, Richardson, Henderson, Sykes, Muncaster, Horne, Hastings.

Good morning one and all.

Scotland are back in New Zealand after last week's bruising defeat by Fiji in Suva, as they finish their summer tour in Auckland against Samoa.

Nothing but a win will do for Gregor Townsend's side.

Image source, Getty Images