Samoa comfortably beat United States in RWC

Samoa kicked off their Rugby World Cup campaign with a 25-16 Pool B victory
over Pacific Island side Samoa in Brighton.

The Samoans were ably led by captain Ofisa Treviranus who led from the front
and even managed to score a try in the match.

While Treviranus scored a battling try, Tusi Pusi kicked four penalties as
Samoa stayed comfortably ahead of the Americans throughout the game

“Our discipline was excellent today and the boys were brilliant,”
said the captain after both teams knelt and said prayers together following
the final whistle.

Predicted big hits quickly materialised after the start with American centre
Thretton Palamo leaving opposite number Rey Lee-Lo shaken on the turf in less
than a minute. Lee-Lo was sent for a head assessment.

A scrappy opening few minutes, with the Samoans largely testing the USA defence
resulted in a penalty to the Pacific islanders and fly-half Pisi slotted it
over for 3-0.

Pisi turned creator in the 20th minute. He produced a delightful grubber kick
behind the American defence for fullback Tim Manai-Williams — cousin of All
Blacks great Sonny Bill Williams — to run onto and touch down for his first
try for his country.

Pisi failed to convert to leave the score 8-0 but added a penalty seven minutes
later for 11-0 with the Americans once again penalised. The famously ill-disciplined
Samoans by contrast had by contrast yet to attract referee George Clancy’s ire.

However, when Samoa came under pressure for the first time Clancy awarded the
United States a penalty after a Samoan went offside. Ireland-born fly-half AJ
MacGinty converted it for 11-3.

MacGinty, who sprang from the same alma mater as iconic Irish centre Brian
O’Driscoll Blackrock College, showed he is not just there for kicking as his
vision created a superb try after the US won a Samoan lineout.

He took the ball just outside his 22 and burst through the Samoan defence before
offloading to Seamus Kelly, who cut inside and found captain Chrius Wyles who
went over for the try — MacGinty sent his conversion wide.

The Americans, though, again donated points to the Samoans with an infringement
and Pisi added the three points for a half-time 14-8 lead.

The Pacific islanders extended their lead early in the second-half NManai-Williams
ripping the ball free of wing Takudzwa Ngwenya close to the Americans tryline.

The ball ran loose captain Ofisa Treviranus picked it up and went over the
line — Pisi’s curates egg of a day with the boot continued as his conversion
attempt came off the post.

Pisi and MacGinty exchanged penalties to see the score tick over to 22-11 with
just over 20 minutes to go.

The game began to peter out with 15 minutes remaining, a succession of set
pieces prompting the crowd into a rendition of ‘Sweet Chariot’ to keep themselves
entertained.

Samoa left the Americans needing two converted tries to even force a draw with
10 minutes remaining as Mike Stanley — who had replaced Tusi Pisi — kicked
a superb penalty from wide out on the left for 25-11.

They scored one try as replacement Chirs Baumann went over but MacGinty failed
to convert.

Samoa next play South Africa on Saturday, which promises to be a bruising encounter
after the Springboks humiliation by Japan on Saturday. The United States face
Scotland.

“Scotland will be a tough game but this game will have been useful for
it,” said US coach Mike Tolkin. “Frustrating errors and our lack of
discipline did for us. I am disappoiunted.”

Final Score Samoa 25 (14) United States 16 (8)

Scorers

Samoa
Tries – Nanai-Williams, Treviranus
Pen – Pisi (4), Stanley
Con –
Drop –
Cards –

United States
Tries – Wyles, Baumann
Pen – MacGinty (2)
Con –
Drop –
Cards –

Match Officials
Referee: George Clancy (IRL)

Teams

Samoa

Tim Nanai-Williams; Ken Pisi, Paul Perez, Reynold Lee-Lo, Alesana Tuilagi;
Tusi Pisi, Kahn Fotuali’i; Ofisa Treviranus (capt), Jack Lam, Maurie Fa’asavalu;
Iosefa Tekori, Teofilo Paulo; Anthony Perenise, Ole Avei, Sakaria Taulafo

Replacements: Motu Matu’u, Viliamu Afatia, Census Johnston, Faifili Levave,
Alafoti Faosiliva, Vavao Afemai, Mike Stanley, Fa’atoina Autagavaia

United States

Blaine Scully; Takudzwa Ngwenya, Seamus Kelly, Thretton Palamo, Chris Wyles
(capt); AJ MacGinty, Mike Petri; Samu Manoa, Andrew Durutalo, Al McFarland;
Greg Peterson, Hayden Smith; Titi Lamositele, Zach Fenoglio, Eric Fry

Replacements: Phil Thiel, Oli Kilifi, Chris Baumann, Cameron Dolan, Danny Barrett,
Shalom Suniula, Folau Niua, Brett Thompson