If ever a game proved the worth of the WXV concept, this was it.
Opposites met; the large versus the small (only in the geographical sense); the highest (7th) versus the lowest (15th) in world rankings.
A final gap of only ten points showed how the competition is opening new horizons. Though the Eagles haven’t played a heap of test matches in recent years, the Samoans have been on a starvation diet; just a couple of games in 2023. Their reaction to coming on the field in Stellenbosch was shown in an emotional reaction to the national anthem.
Their inexperience was shown at the start. There was no-one in place to clear the ball from a ruck. When help arrived, the pass was loose.
Then, inside two minutes, the referee penalised Utumalama Atonio for a high tackle. Later, the TMO invited the onfield officials to inspect another high tackle by Lulu Leuta, the hooker. To her relief it was judged worthy only of a yellow. The verdict: ‘indirect first, then shoulder to head’. To some onlookers that appeared a generous reading of events.
At the next line-out an Eagles jumper was impeded. The Samoans were learning slowly, but the USA didn’t profit at once, inaccuracies spoiling the show. In fact it was the Samoans who took the lead. What a surprise when the right winger, Linda Fiafia cut clean through a shaky Americn defence to open the scoring under the posts. She survived the embraces she was given.
That stirred the Eagles to action. They built a threatening attack through their forwards, then Carly Waters sent the ball wide left. In space on the end was Lotte Clapp, who has been in that position more times than she can remember. She galloped in from one-and-a-half metres.
A second try came from more forward dominance, only this time Atumata Hingano cut a good angle to celebrate her debut with a try.
Before half-time the Samoans completed another dramatic score, Karla Wright-Akeli slicing through more imperfect defence-work. Cassie Siataga’s conversion put her side two points up (12-14), with the break approaching. Tess Feury had the last word though, running in through another disjointed defensive line.
Half-time: USA 17 Samoa 14
The second half showed Manusina what still needs sorting. The Americans added another 19 points. Hingano continued proving her worth, following a fine break with a perfectly timed off-load to her centre-partner, Kate Zackary.
One of the problems of a dominant scrum is that it tends to leave all eight concentrating hard on forward propulsion. Samoa learned the hard lesson as Rachel Johnson retrieved the ball and set off to the right of her fifteen fellow forwards. With skill and determination she reached beyond the line.
But the game was anything but one-sided.
To their great credit Samoa came back hard on the three-quarter mark. Now the pack had the strength to force the ball over the line by themselves; the backs looked on and admired.
To finish, Manusina added a fine try; adventurous passing down the line gave Avau Filimaua her chance on the wide right. That earned them a creditable bonus point.
And possession worked out at 50:50!
Result: USA 36 Samoa 26
Teams:
USA
1 Benson, 2 Treder, 3 Jacoby, 4 Taufoou 5 Jarrell, 6 Tafuna 7 Brody 8 Johnson, 9 Waters, 10 Cantorna, 11 Clapp, 12 *Hingano, 13 Zackary (captain), 14 Feury 15 Mataitoga
Bench: 16 Stathopoulos, 17 Tupou, 18 Sagapolu, 19 Kronish, 20 Ehrecke, 21 Tukuafu, 22 Bizer, 23 Henrich
*uncapped
Samoa
1 Mamea, 2 Leuta, 3 Aiono, 4 Tafoulua, 5 Savelio, 6 Ryder, 7 Tauasa Pauaraisa (captain), 8 Foaese, 9 Milo,10 Siataga, 11 Futialo, 12 Atonio 13 Schuster 14 Fiafia, 15 Wright-Akeli
Bench: 16 Talawadua, 17 Filimaua, 18 Meavaga Brown 19 Tugaga, 20 Tauasosi, 21 Tusiga, 22 Leiataua, 23 Curry
Officials:
Referee: Precious Pazani (ZRU)
ARs: Holly Wood (RFU) and Zoe Naude (SARU) TMO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)
with thanks to rugbyreferee.net
Afterthoughts
Samoa can take great credit from their performance. They have a large pack who lasted well, and the delight in skilful handling, always a marker of their Sevens play, will improve further with more competition.
But the management must harp on the need for extreme obedience to the laws of the game; they conceded too many penalties. Exuberance and ignorance are no defence before it.
The result shows the WXV concept at its best. A small nation deprived of regular contests gave the past winners of the World Cup a thorough examination.
Like the other nations, head coaches will be working hard on weaknesses spotted, while analysts will be passing a fine tooth-comb through the patterns of play of their future opponents. Players unused to the rigours of weekly contests will need all the rest and recuperation they can take, but the coaches will be working them hard for the next battle.
