Rugby: Samoa ready to rattle some kilts

Brian Lima's trademark crunching defence is set to return to New Zealand rugby fields tomorrow night when Manu Samoa meet Scotland for their "home" game at Wellington's Westpac Stadium.

The 1.82m, 98kg second five-eighth was a popular winger for Auckland, Blues and Highlanders and Manu Samoa until he moved to Japan in 2000.

On his return he switched to midfield.

Lima's performance at last year's World Cup only served to reinforce his reputation as devastating tackler with some of the English and South Africans coming off second-best in their pool matches. Tomorrow night, Scotland can expect more "big defence" from the Samoans.

"That's the boys' strength -- to put in some big tackles and we'll be doing that against Scotland," Lima told NZPA yesterday.

"We're looking forward to playing a Six-Nations side, and we've built up since last week's game against Tonga."

Lima, 31 and with 55 caps, links up with former Ponsonby player Dale Rasmussen in the mid-field, while the other backs are Chiefs winger Lome Fa'atau, 2003 World Cup fullback Tanner Vili and halfback Steven So'oialo.

Lima will be hoping they can cross for tries after the Samoans were kept tryless in their season opening 24-14 win against Tonga last weekend.

Scotland have also struggled to register tries. They lost their tour opener to Queensland 5-41, also last weekend.

They scored 53 points and conceded 146 in their five games in this year's Six-nations, finishing with the wooden spoon.

Despite their poor record, Lima still expects the Matt Williams' coached Scots to be tough.

The Wellington test is a home-coming for the St Patrick's College Town old-boy.

"It's good to be back here in Wellington. There are a lot of Samoans here who will be supporting us," he said."

After equalling the record for most successive World Cup matches (14) since 1991, Lima is thinking of hanging up his boots.

"I first played for Samoa in 1990 and on making the team I decided to play for Samoa for as long as I can.

"I have to listen to my body. At the moment I'm concentrating on the Samoan internationals but maybe at the end of this year, or possibly next year, I'll quit."

The Scottish camp was rocked by another injury yesterday.

Williams was forced to reshuffle his side after the loss of centre Tom Philip.

Philip became fourth player sent home from the tour due to injury.

He will require a total knee reconstruction after tearing ligaments in his ACL in what Williams described as a "freakish accident" at training.

Philip collided with fellow squad member Dan Parks during a beach run on Sunday, but management realised the extent of the injury when they received scans back yesterday.

"Tom wanted to play (against Samoa), and he couldn't believe it when they said he had to have a reconstruction," Williams said.

Another injury has forced the selection of Gordon Ross at first five-eighth, with Chris Paterson moving back to his former role of fullback.

"Paterson has not been able to do much kicking with the pelvic injury that he sustained, and Gordon's kicking form has been extremely good."

Winger Sean Lamont will make his test debut against the Samoans, as will Hugo Southwell if he gets a run off the bench.

"When you consider the number of players that are unavailable through injury, I think we counted 12, it means that we're starting to grow a base of players that can, one, put pressure on each other, and two, that are available to us."

Samoa: Tanner Vili, Lome Fa'atau, Dale Rasmussen, Brian Lima, Sailosi Tagicakibau, Roger Warren, Steven So'oialo, Semo Sititi (captain), Ulia Ulia, Siaosi Vaili, Opeta Palepoi, Leo Lafaiali'i, Tamato Leupolu, Jonathan Meredith, Kas Lealamanua. Reserves: Loleni Tafunai, Simon Lemalu, Kitiona Viliamu, Michael Von Dincklage, John Senio, Mussolini Schuster, David Lemi.

Scotland: Chris Paterson, Sean Lamont, Ben Hinshelwood, Andy Henderson, Simon Webster, Gordon Ross, Chris Cusiter, Allister Hogg, Donnie Macfadyen, Jason White, Scott Murray (captain), Stuart Grimes, Bruce Douglas, Gordon Bulloch, Tom Smith. Reserves: Steve Scott, Craig Smith, Iain Fullarton, Jon Petrie, Mike Blair, Dan Parks, Hugo Southwell.

- NZPA