Samoa 25 USA 21: Samoa ends five-match losing streak

Samoa ended a five-match losing streak at the Rugby World Cup by beating United States 25-21 in its final Group A match yesterday.

Samoa, which made the quarterfinals in 1991 and '95, lost its last two games in 2003 and its first three in '07. But it will depart from France having left a lasting impression of running rugby at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.

Led by flyhalf Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, whose darting, teasing runs continually befuddled the Eagles, Samoa scored three first-half tries to lead 22-3 at the break. But the attacking fluency wasn't there for Samoa afterward, as the Eagles lifted in commitment and execution to win the second half 18-3.

"We were lucky to have the points in the first half," Samoa captain Semo Sititi said. "It's a credit to USA, the boys really put their bodies on the line."

Wingers Lome Fa'atau and Alesana Tuilagi and lock Kane Thompson scored tries for Samoa, while fullback Loki Crichton kicked four from five for 10 points.

Winger Takudzwa Ngwenya and blindside flanker Louis Stanfill had tries for the Eagles, while flyhalf Mike Hercus kicked four from six for 11 points.

Samoa finished with five points in Group A. The United States has two and will almost certainly end up last with its final match against group winner South Africa on September 30 in Montpellier.

From the national anthems when No. 8 Fifita Mounga wept freely with head bowed, it was obvious the Eagles were pumped up. But it was Samoa flanker Justin Purdie who leveled Stanfill with a crash tackle from the kickoff.

Samoa scored the first try in the fifth minute after a 40-meter run from insider center Elvis Seveali'i. From the third straight lineout ball it had stolen just five meters out, Samoa outside center Seilala Mapusua passed for Fa'atau to beat opposing winger Salesi Sika. Crichton missed the kick, but Samoa led 5-0.

Four minutes later, Tuilagi ran over the top of American fullback Chris Wyles to slide over the line after a clean break by Fuimaono-Sapolu. Crichton landed the kick for Samoa to lead 12-0.

Samoa continually used the full width of the field, with Fuimaono-Sapolu's soft hands and light stepping allowing Seveali'i, Crichton and Tuilagi to make breaks on the outside of the compacted American defensive line.

No. 8 Alfie Vaeluaga's bull-like charges up the middle ensured the injured Henry Tuilagi wasn't missed.

After some stubborn American defense, Crichton and Hercus kicked goals for Samoa to lead 15-3 in the 32nd minute.

In the 37th minute, Samoa moved out to a 22-3 lead when Fuimaono-Sapolu stepped through the line again and passed to Mapusua, who found Thompson trailing on the inside to go over under the posts.

A clever kick by Crichton found Fa'atau alone on the right flank in the 45th, but he couldn't collect the skidding ball with the line open. Four minutes later, Samoa Mapusua spilled a pass from Fuimaono-Sapolu 20 metres out.

It wasn't all totally one-way traffic. Hercus' 20-meter cutout pass in his own 22 released outside center Philip Eloff, and his kick ahead was only just grounded in-goal by Crichton with Eloff bearing down on him in the 49th minute.

Four minutes later, Ngwenya scored an individual try, stepping inside Tuilagi and fending off Mapusua before sprinting 25 meters to score out wide. Hercus made the sideline kick for 22-10.

Both teams then had try-scoring chances.

American hooker Owen Lentz split the defense in a 20-meter run into the attacking 22. But the ball was turned over and scrumhalf Junior Polu ran over halfway, before his kick for Fa'atau was collected by Wyles in his 22.

Mounga was carried off on a stretcher in the 64th after breaking from a maul and being hit by Purdie.

Hercus then kicked two penalties to one from Crichton for Samoa to lead 25-13 in the 76th.

Three minutes later, Stanfill went down the blindside to score after a five-meter scrum — but it wasn't enough as Hercus missed the conversion and referee Wayne Barnes blew full time.

"I think at the end we played really good," Hercus said. "We've really got in the habit of being slow starters. The spirit of rugby was there. Hopefully we entertained people."