FOUR years ago at this stage of the Rugby World Cup, Scotland faced a must-win game against England. They lost it, and before they knew it they were out of their hotels and on their way home. Tournament over.

It was a galling experience that Ross Ford, who played in that 16-12 defeat in Auckland, has no intention of repeating. The hooker knows that Scotland did not play to the best of their abilities then, but is sure that if they do the same against Samoa this afternoon they will be all right this time round.

“The whole thing was pretty disappointing from our point of view,” Ford said yesterday. “We didn’t do ourselves justice and it was frustrating to go out like that.

“It does [concentrate the mind], the last pool game. Win this and we go on to the quarter-final, which is something that we’ve worked hard for right from the start of pre-season. Knowing teams are going home does make it a little more realistic and we know we have a massive job to get that result.”

Although he has been in the national side since 2004, it is perhaps only now, at 31, that Ford is reaching his best, most effective form. Along with Edinburgh team-mates Alasdair Dickinson and WP Nel, he is part of a formidable front-row unit, one that has only been available to Scotland since South Africa-born Nel qualified on residency grounds earlier this year.

And, while the Scottish pack has grown in strength, particularly in the scrum, the Samoans do not appear to be the force they were. For a rugby nation that has long prided itself on its physical power, this Samoan team has underperformed badly - perhaps being more of a disappointment than any other side with the exception of the hosts, England.

Even so, Ford is in no mood to write off his opponents, and is ready for a hard fight this afternoon. He knows that he and his fellow-forwards need to get the better of that fight, or at least come out on level terms, before Scotland’s most dangerous backs such as Stuart Hogg and Mark Bennett can exploit the gaps in the Samoan defence and start to threaten the try line.

“I don’t know if their standard has dropped, but we understand that they have dangerous backs, good off-loaders, good steppers and are good in contact,” he said of the Samoans. “We’re aware of the threats that they bring.

“From our point of view we have to dominate up front and set a platform, and that allows us to get into the game, which will allow us to release Hoggy and Marky and that lot and they can do what they do. We have to boss it up front for that to happen.”

One back well equipped to deal with Samoa’s physical challenge is Sean Lamont, who will win his 100th cap if - as seems certain - he comes off the bench. “To be on the cusp of getting to 100 caps, it shows how good he is, because this is a tough game,” Ford said of his team-mate. “He’s had his fair share of injuries throughout his career, but he’s kept coming back and got stronger and the last couple of years he’s right back to his best form.

“He’s a great boy to know and to be in the squad and to come off the bench and make a massive impact on the park like he always does. I’m really pleased for him if he gets that [100th cap]: it’s something he can be very proud of. I think he’s a got a few games left in him yet and he’s been such a cracking player for us. To have that impact off the bench is really important to us.”

While happy to praise others, Ford is, as ever, diffident about his own contribution. When the game starts today he will be just seven caps away from his own century, but when asked about the impending landmark he preferred to talk some more about Lamont.

“It’s not something I have a massive think about, to be honest. But I enjoy playing, and if I’m playing well enough to get picked I’ll happily continue to put myself forward.

“Sean’s just very matter of fact about it. He never gets too up or down about it. We’ll have a little thing after the game if he gets on. You get a cap with gold stitching or something, something slightly different. The occasion will be marked, because it’s a big thing.”