Rugby Live

Finished Saint-Etienne

Samoa 25 - USA 21

Samoa

United States

  • Live Commentary

    Time:80'
    • Samoa
    • United States
    • - Thank you for enjoying this evening's rugby with eurosport.yahoo.com. We'll see you on Friday for England v Tonga in Paris. Bye!
    • - Well a great match ends with a try for the US of A, and well-deserved on that second-half performance. What a shame that they could not complete the comeback. Samoa played some excellent stuff in the first half.
    • 80' Hercus' conversion is a few inches shy of the near post and the final whistle sounds - the clock reads 80 minutes exactly.
    • 80' Stanfill takes it on and finds a way to the line! The USA have a try - but look at the clock! The seconds are ticking down...
    • 79' Down they go... the time is leaking away as Samoa keep disrupting things...
    • 78' The video ref has a decision to make after Eloff just releases the ball in the corner as he goes out of play - Ngwenya kicks it on over the try-line and Crichton gets an elbow on the ball before Eloff touches the top of it. He decides on a five-metre scrum in the USA's favour.
    • 77' Hercus with a grubber kick but veteran Tuilagi - wing Alesana, the last of the four brothers to feature for their country - scoops it up and clears.
    • 76' After the kick off Hercus takes the ball while Sefo charges straight into Lentz! He put him on his backside from the blindside - ouch! Yellow card for the Samoan.
    • 76' Hercus with a penalty chance, in the centre of the field. He kicks it - two scores the difference again...
    • 75' Samoa have not clicked in this year's World Cup - they have played well at times but allowed the USA, ranked lower in the world, to challenge in this second half. Don't forget that they faced England in a bruising encounter only four days ago.
    • 74' It looks cold out there, with the players' breath visible. It has been a battle in this wooden spoon decider, the first meeting between these teams.
    • 72' Crichton kicks for 25-13 and now the USA need two converted tries.
    • 71' Samoa on the attack now and win a penalty. Crichton will have an easy chance from the centre of the pitch.
    • 69' The USA down the left - they come to the middle and lose it. Ngwenya chases the long kick down and scampers up and past a couple of opponents before being put down. Good defending.
    • 68' Scratch that - a scrum is now given to the USA and Moeakiola replaces MacDonald, who now decides that he cannot continue.
    • 67' MacDonald back into the fray for the United States after treatment. Scrum to Samoa...
    • 66' Hercus blocks Crichton's kick and is through! He is not quick enough though and has to turn back... the USA on top while Samoa have lost all their rhythm.
    • 65' Penalty to the USA after Thompson commits a foul. Hercus kicks it... 22-13 the score now. The deficit is growing smaller and smaller...
    • 65' Veteran Kiwi Peter Thorburn looks on from the touchline, more than concerned.
    • 64' American number eight Mounga is in a bad way after a smash from Samoa's Purdie at the breakdown. There is a long stoppage while they look to get him on a stretcher - they seem concerned. It looks like it might be his neck.
    • 62' The game is broken up by the scrum after a super-fast period. the players must be knackered. The USA need to keep going if they are to claw this one back...
    • 60' Mounga is back into the fray, with the US of A seven points up from his absence. Sit back down son - your boys are doing fine without you!
    • 57' The USA burst through and could be in here... unfortunately he hits the deck as the Samoans converge in the centre of the pitch and Polu now hits back with a surge of his own. A grubber kick is defended by Wyles.
    • 54' Hercus with a fantastic kick from the right to convert. Can they come back with the score at 22-10 with 25 minutes left?
    • 53' The USA in front of the 22 look to Ngwenya on the right - he is like lighning in dodging through and over the line in seconds! Great try by the wing. Tuilagi and Mapusua could not get near him.
    • 52' USA number eight Mounga punished for a cynical challenge and is shown the yellow card. To the sin bin he marches, the Americans down to 14.
    • 50' Hercus instigates an American attack on the left with a ranging pass and Sika is away... he kicks down the touchline and Crichton heads back to collect with Wyles and Sika after him... Crichton takes his time to drop onto it and Wyles is down behind him - for a moment it looks as though he might have snaked an arm round to touch down for a try, but the video says otherwise.
    • 49' The USA have a go again but once more the ball is turned over and Crichton tries to feed a reverse ball to Mapusua - the outside centre would have been in, but he could not take the catch! Samoa frustrating, but they are doing everything else well and the game is wide open.
    • 47' Thompson pounds into the USA, the 10-metre line is crossed... the ball is turned over. Groans from Samoan coach Michael Jones.
    • 45' Ngwenya battering through the Samoans on the left to lead an American break. He chips but the ball is fielded and Samoa counter to the left... Tuilagi dodges this way and that but there is no way through.
    • 44' To the right now and full-back Crichton chips out wide where Fa'atau will score if he picks up cleanly... he cannot. A shame for Samaoa, good rugby.
    • 42' Referee Wayne Barnes struggling to get any order into the lineout on the halfway line. Samoa win it and attack to the left.
    • 41' Hercus kicks off the second period. The USA will have to improve if they are to challenge in this match.
    • - No changes at half time.
    • 40+1' Hercus kicks into touch to clear the danger and the half-time whistle sounds. The score 22-3.
    • 40' Crichton places pressure on the USA with a high kick and Wyles knocks on. Scrumdown.
    • 38' Crichton will not miss that kick, right in front of the posts. Only Gavin Hastings could manage that in a World Cup...
    • 37' Samoa use the ball well in a variety of creative formations before lock Thompson takes it over the line - his first try for his country! Good try for Samoa, who just suddenly woke up again.
    • 36' Fuimaono-Sapolu kicks down the touchline but does not make up much ground. However the lineout is not straight - in the Samoans' favour!
    • 34' American flanker Stanfill hurt but able to continue. The USA are pushing Samoa back now.
    • 31' Straight from kick off the USA are awarded a penalty. Hercus kicks it for the USA's first points on the board.
    • 29' Clever penalised for grabbing an opponent who does not have the ball. Penalty to Samoa - put over by Worcester full-back Crichton. 15-0
    • 28' Samoa try to begin another wave of attack but the ball is turned over, better defence again from the Americans. Scrum-half Erskine slips as he tries to clear, but the ball is dead as it just crosses the sideline.
    • 27' Clever battles to rescue the ball after a failed USA scrum - their pack is not as big as the Samoans! He runs it out to relative safety.
    • 26' Polu does execute a reverse pass into the arms of Crichton, who heads for the line. Scrum-half Polu again plucks the ball out but the pass only five yards from the line is not taken...
    • 24' Fuimaono-Sapolu dummies and heads straight through the USA's first line of defence, great skill! He did well to take the ball too as Polu's pass was low and bouncing. He looks for a reverse pass inside but cannot get it right. Penalty to Samoa anyway for holding on his shirt.
    • 23' Pressure on the States again, but US wing Sika gets away with it when he wins a penalty.
    • 21' OUCH! USA flanker Clever is on the floor hurt after looking to make a tackle. He certainly looks like a native of Palm Springs with that curly blonde hair and ponytail! He'll be okay to carry on.
    • 20' The game is in midfield, the ball not moving much either side of halfway...
    • 18' The United States are bottom of Pool A and keen to put in a good showing, but they should toughen up their defence after it let them down against Tonga.
    • 16' After some treatment Hercus is okay to continue and kicks to touch over halfway. I take back what I said about the Samoans not scaring me all that much!
    • 14' Wyles clears from deep and Samoa take the lineout quickly. Within seconds Samoa are in position to score again, but their opponents turn the ball over. USA captain Hercus shapes to kick and instead runs it out before chipping; Purdie smacks into him late, a high dangerous tackle!
    • 12' Hercus misses a chance of a penalty, putting the ball wide. The USA still to get on the scoresheet.
    • 10' Crichton this time manages to kick just inside the far post for a 12-0 Samoa lead, a superb effort from right on the touchline. The USA up against it.
    • 8' Samoa are straight back onto the attack and Tuilagi takes the ball from Fuimaono-Sapolu on the left touchline before breaking a Wyles tackle and sliding over in the wet! There is a formal check upstairs, but the second try is also scored by Samoa. Lightning start by the Pacific Islanders.
    • 5' The attempted conversion is missed by Crichton for Samoa.
    • 4' Samoa push the States to the line. At the breakdown Lafaialii plucks and feeds Mapusua, who heads wide and passes to Fa'atau who is over for the try!
    • 3' Hercus leads a break-out for the USA, who have already bettered their start against Tonga - they conceded a first-minute try - and Tuilagi takes the ball well for Samoa before clearing his team's lines. Crichton and Polu almost score for Samoa as the play swings back to the other end!
    • 2' Tuilagi with a small grubber kick to the left when the ball comes back to Samoa that puts pressure on the USA. Lineout to them...
    • 1' Samoa start us off with a kick deep into the United States half.
    • - Samoa follow that with their Haka, which should be quite scary - but as they are yet to fire in this tournament and have 12 players out for this one, isn't really that imposing.
    • - The United States team places hands on hearts for their national anthem, something they take extremely seriously in the good old US of A.
    • - Welcome to eurosport.yahoo.com's LIVE text commentary on the World Cup Pool A wooden spoon decider between Samoa and the United States.

  • Summary

    Samoa versus United States
    Fa'atau 5’, Tuilagi 8’, Thompson 38’ Tries Ngwenya 53’, Stanfill 79’
    Crichton 10’, 39’ Conversions Hercus 54’
    Crichton 30’, 71’ Penalties Hercus 32’, 65’, 73’
      Drops  

Live Team Line-Up

  • Referee: Wayne Barnes

  • Samoa

    Manager: Michael Jones

    On the Field

    • Lealamanua
    • Schlwager Substitution Out (73′)
    • Johnston
    • Lafaiali'i
    • Thompson Try Substitution Out (64′)
    • Sititi Substitution In (70′)
    • Purdie Substitution Out (78′)
    • Vaeluaga Substitution Out (67′)
    • poluleuigaga Substitution Out (70′)
    • Fuimaono-Sapolu Substitution Out (70′)
    • Tuilagi Try
    • Seveali'i
    • Mapusua
    • Fa'atau Try Substitution Out (60′)
    • Crichton

    Subs

    • So'oialo Substitution In (70′)
    • Lui
    • Lemi Substitution In (60′)
    • Tekori Substitution In (64′)
    • Vaisolasefo Substitution In (73′) Yellow Card
    • Ulia Substitution In (67′)
    • Leleimalefaga Substitution In (70′)

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

  • United States

    Manager: Peter Thornburn

    On the Field

    • MacDonald Substitution Out (68′)
    • Lentz
    • Osentowski
    • Parker
    • Mexted
    • Stanfill Try
    • Clever Substitution Out (45′)
    • Mo'unga Yellow Card Substitution Out (64′)
    • Erskine
    • Hercus
    • Ngwenya Try
    • Esikia Substitution Out (73′)
    • Eloff
    • Sika
    • Wyles

    Subs

    • Tuipulotu
    • Petri
    • Malifa
    • Burdette Substitution In (45′)
    • Moekiola Substitution In (68′)
    • Aylor Substitution In (64′)
    • Bloomfield

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None