Samoa beat Scotland in rugby for the first time as powerful winger Alesana Tuilagi scored two tries in a 27-17 win in the opening game of the four-nation tournament in South Africa on Saturday.

Fullback James So’oialo and Tuilagi crossed in the first 15 minutes at Kings Park to surprise a Scotland team missing several players on the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.

Tuilagi’s second try in the 64th was then decisive after Scotland had clawed its way back into contention.

Scrumhalf Greig Laidlaw began Scotland’s fightback with four penalties, and right wing Sean Lamont scored the Scots’ only try at the start of the second half to put them briefly ahead.

But Tuilagi ran on to a short pass off a scrum and burst through Scotland’s defence for Samoa’s first victory in nine Tests against the Scots.