A FULLY-FIT FINN Russell is back in the Scotland team for tomorrow’s crunch game against Samoa and ready to steer the side to the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup. A win would guarantee the Scots second place in Pool B, which would take them through to a last-eight meeting with the winners of Pool A - either Wales or Australia.

Samoa are fourth in Pool B and out of the running, but Russell warned that they should not be written off. “They know if they win the game then they’ll move into third place in the group, so they’ll earn qualification for the next World Cup,” said the Glasgow stand-off, who was ruled out of last week’s game against South Africa with an ankle injury.

“So they still have something to lose. But for us, if we lose the game and fail to reach the quarter-finals then it’ll be hugely disappointing, having managed to win our first two games with bonus points and having put ourselves into this position. We know we have to win, and we’ve not talked about that much.

“It’s a good situation for us to be in, but there’s pressure on us to win the game. Samoa are in the same situation and will want to win.

“There’s always pressure, but our boys should be used to that. Everyone has played at a high enough level and we’ve had pressure like this before.”

Russell was walking with crutches and wearing a moon boot last week to protect his injury. But although he could not take a full part in training, he was able to do enough to keep his fitness levels up, so was always confident he would be able to play against the Samoans.

“Every day I was doing something, whether it was in the pool or doing some of the rehab recovery stuff. Even though I spent time on the crutches, I was pretty happy - I’m a chilled-out type of guy.”

John Hardie has also been recalled to the team after missing out against both the United States and South Africa through injury. Head coach Vern Cotter has made seven changes in all from the team that lost to the Springboks - four in the pack and three among the backs.

Hardie, who sat out those two games after taking a head knock against Japan, comes into a reshaped back row with Ryan Wilson. David Denton retains his place at No 8, while Josh Strauss drops down to the bench and Blair Cowan misses out. The other two changes to the pack see Alasdair Dickinson and Ross Ford return to the front row.

In the backs, Russell takes over at stand-off from Duncan Weir, Mark Bennett replaces Richie Vernon at centre, and Sean Maitland is back on the wing in place of Tim Visser. Weir drops out of the squad, with Peter Horne retaining his place on the bench as cover at stand-off and centre.

Sean Lamont will win his 100th cap if he comes off the bench. Richie Gray, who starts alongside brother Jonny, will make his 50th appearance.

Scotland (v Samoa at St James’ Park, Saturday, 2..300pm): S Hogg; T Seymour, M Bennett, M Scott, S Maitland; F Russell, G Laidlaw; A Dickinson, R Ford, W Nel, R Gray, J Gray, R Wilson, J Hardie, D Denton. Substitutes: F Brown, G Reid, J Welsh, T Swinson, J Strauss, H Pyrgos, P Horne, S Lamont.