Samoa begin with victory over United States

Samoa narrowly edged out the USA in their World Cup Pool B opener to begin the tournament with a 25-16 victory in Brighton.

The Americans conceded far too many penalties and were punished for that ill-discipline as Samoa’s Tusi Pisi kicked 12 points.

That was backed up by tries from Tim Nanai-Williams and Ofisa Treviranaus for the Pacific Islanders either side of the break.

Saracens' Chris Wyles rounded off a superb move for America’s first try of the competition just before half-time, but Chris Baunmann’s score seven minutes from time was merely a consolation.

This was Samoa’s fifth straight victory over the US and this win puts them in a good position to  reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 1995.

It wasn’t quite as dramatic as Japan’s historic win over South Africa at the Amex Stadium yesterday, but it was certainly matched in terms of physicality and intensity.

Samoa’s Rey Lee-Leo was an early casualty as he was sent backwards by Theretton Palamo, but it was Lee-Leo’s side that got the first points on the board as Pisi slotted over a penalty on nine minutes in front of a near sell-out crowd.

Samoa’s first try of the match came midway through the first-half after a good spell of pressure ended with a measured grubber kick from Pisi.

The fly-half prodded the ball past the USA defenders and into the path of Nanai-Williams to score his first try for his country in what was a very impressive display from the full-back.

Pisi failed with the conversion attempt, but redeemed himself by adding three more points when the USA gave away a penalty after an excellent surge from over halfway by flanker Jack Lam.

The Eagles scored their first points of this World Cup just after half an hour as AJ MacGinty knocked over a penalty when Blaine Scully was impeded illegally.

And it was MacGinty that began the move that led to USA’s try. He glided past the Samoan defence and found Seamus Kelly who fed his captain Wyles, to complete an excellent free-flowing move.

MacGinty could not add the extras, however, and three points from the boot of Pisi saw Samoa lead 14-8 at half-time.

Samoa then took control of proceedings on 46 minutes when Treviranus scored in the corner. The try once again came in the form of a clever kick by Pisi and the USA defence couldn't get hold of it which allowed the Samoa captain to dot down.

Pisi and MacGinty kept the scoreboard ticking over as they exchanged penalties and Michael Stanley added another for Samoa, before Chris Baumann forced his way over to set-up a potential USA fightback.

However, Samoa managed to see out the contest and hold their nerve, but this was a valiant display by the Eagles.

Samoa's next match is against South Africa on Saturday in Birmingham while the USA take on Scotland in Leeds next Sunday.