Samoa on track with win over USA

BRIGHTON – Man of the match Tim Nanai-Williams lit up the Brighton Community Stadium.

A combination of the Samoa full-back’s lightning fast footwork and poor discipline from the United States saw Samoa safely home against their Pool B rivals, 25-16, in a game in which both captains touched down.

The form guide may have been ripped up the previous day by Japan in their victory over South Africa, but the Pacific islanders made their higher World Rugby ranking tell by being more accurate and more disciplined than their opponents.

Both teams seemed intent on playing at a high tempo, and to making use of the impressive speed on offer in both backlines, but there were errors and mistakes aplenty, particularly by the United States, who conceded 11 penalties to the Samoans’ four.

Kicks proved the difference as the teams scored two tries each but the US paid the price for giving away too many penalties after Samoa had established a 14-8 halftime lead in the midday sunshine in front of 30,000 spectators at the Brighton Community Stadium, the scene of Japan’s stunning victory over the Springboks that blew the pool open a day earlier.

Tries from Tim Nanai-Williams and Ofisa Treviranus and 12 points from the foot of flyhalf Tusi Pisi and another penalty by Michael Stanley saw them home.

The Americans ensured a nervy end to the contest for Samoa when Chris Baumann went over to cut the deficit to nine points for the final 10 minutes of the contest.

Samoa have expectations of a quarter-final place for the first time since 1995, and with group matches to come against South Africa, Japan and Scotland, needed to make a positive start.

“It was tough but it has set us up for the next game. The South Africa loss to Japan showed that all teams at the World Cup have quality,” Treviranus said.