Cagey in the brutal opening exchanges, keeping it tight and punching through the forwards, Scotland missed the chance of scores out wide to stick to the gameplan. As a result, they trailed 3-0.

But, just as had been outlined before kick-off, the 20-minute mark signalled a change in approach and the first of three penalties from Chris Paterson heralded a sharp upturn in fortunes.

In the space of 14 minutes either side of half-time Scotland racked up 20 points with tries from fly-half Gordon Ross just before the interval then quick-fire scores after it from Ben Hinshelwood and Ally Hogg.

Stout and committed defence laid the base for Scotland's victory and the desire to keep Samoa out was as fierce as the desire to add more tries.

In the end they did both, with Simon Webster and Mike Blair securing Scotland's biggest away victory in two years.

"We were probably a bit nervous and a bit hesitant. We probably had four real scoring opportunities in that first 20 minutes but we didn't take them. That is just confidence," said Williams.

"That is what happens when you lose a lot, you hesitate. But then after 20 minutes that hesitation stopped. There was a belief in the system. I was really happy with the guys, you could see them growing in confidence.

"We said we would earn a win. The other games we haven't deserved a win but I said to the team this week 'we are ready'. Tonight we showed that, especially in our defence."

For Williams, more than the five tries, it was the manner in which his players threw their bodies on the line to keep Samoa at bay that indicated Scotland are beginning to make progress.

"When we scored the second try of the second half we didn't lose focus, we defended extremely well, we were very committed," enthused Williams.

"It was great for us to go through that long period of defence after we had a good lead. Perhaps during the Six Nations we would have switched off so there were lots of plusses.

"We definitely didn't want to let a try in late, even when the game was won, because of pride.

"It doesn't matter what the score is, you have standards. There was a real belief in the system. They defended very well and that was the base for the win. You can't win games, as we have shown in the past, where you leak tries."