18 - 25

40 - 44

42 - 10

18 - 16

16 - 26

37 - 7

25 - 0

22 - 19

36 - 20

59 - 21

40 - 11

20 - 29

30 - 29

20 - 17

20 - 52

Rugby World Cup

Fiji heroics against England inspired Samoa in heartbreaking loss

By PA

27 Aug 2023

Samoa's prop Michael Ala'alatoa (C) leads the haka performance before the pre-World Cup rugby union test match between Ireland and Samoa on August 26, 2023 at Jean-Dauger stadium in Bayonne. (Photo by ROMAIN PERROCHEAU / AFP) (Photo by ROMAIN PERROCHEAU/AFP via Getty Images)

Samoa head coach Seilala Mapusua wants his players to be more clinical at the World Cup, having been inspired by Fiji’s historic Twickenham win over England earlier on Saturday.

Samoa came close to claiming their own historic win against World No.1s Ireland, only to ulimately fall to a 17-13 defeat in miserable conditions in Bayonne.

Second-half tries from Conor Murray and Rob Herring saw Ireland scrape a record 13th straight win after Samoa threatened an upset at Stade Jean Dauge by battling back to lead following Jimmy O’Brien’s maiden Test score.

Mapusua’s men complete their Pool D campaign against Steve Borthwick’s side in Lille in early October.

“There’s definitely a lot to take from today,” he said. “We’ll take a lot of confidence out of that.

“A harsh lesson to learn but we’ve got to nail our opportunities when we get them.

“At the World Cup, we might only get one (chance) in a game, so we’ll definitely take those lessons on board.

“Seeing Fiji not just beat England but in the manner they did, was really inspiring for all of us Pacific islands.

“It’s encouraging to see where our teams in the Pacific are heading. It was awesome to see them make history today.

additional reporting RugbyPass

LIVE

Comments

1 Comment

Flatcoat 446 days ago

Go well Samoa..

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Latest Features

LONG READ

Mick Cleary: 'England are not far off. But the margin is there. It’s palpable.'

Patience is wearing thin for Steve Borthwick after England register their fifth consecutive loss with familiar failings

LONG READ

'Who gives a crap?' Animosity towards the Springboks is proof of their dominance

Isn't hostility a sign you're on top? For the Springboks' detractors, that might explain a lot.

LONG READ

'Two groups of dancing bears': The cross-code clash making a comeback for charity

For the first time in 21 years, rugby union and rugby league go head to head to raise money for motor neurone disease charities.

Comments on RugbyPass

BM 25 minutes ago

Australia vs Wales | Live & Latest Rugby Union Scores & Results | RugbyPass

Great but players do play like Oz too BS!!

6 Go to comments

GrahamVF 29 minutes ago

Rassie Erasmus pinpoints what made the difference in tight Bok win

And Itoje got away with a neck roll?

31 Go to comments

GrahamVF 37 minutes ago

'Borthwick to the job centre' - England fans rage over latest collapse

I think the English team played way better than their previous two games but for me there were two deciding factors. The full back was beaten three times for tries and it would have been a fourth but for a slight forward drift. Secondly according to match stats England carried 110 times for five line breaks and South Africa carried 88 times for seven line breaks. Marcus Smith was the instigator if not the perpetrator of many of the English line breaks but as the game wore on he was much more closely policed by the Bok defence, hence only one score from a penalty in the second half. So generally England's attacking strategy is largely give the ball to Marcus which is going to put huge pressure on him.

3 Go to comments

Another 41 minutes ago

World Rankings: All Blacks fall, Eagles soar

I would be surprised if Australia pull ahead of NZ, given the inertia that exists in the comparative strengths of their domestic teams. However, I do think that Australia are putting their house in order right now and will definitely make up a strong Rugby Championship next year.

7 Go to comments

AA 42 minutes ago

Players defend Steve Borthwick as England future questioned

Players defend Borthwick .

Well they would , considering he picks them .

They defended Eddie too..

We can all see that after 2 years ,while the play has speeded up ,the organisation is hopeless.

If you keep taking the captain off early , well what do you expect .

How many vice captains on the field ??

Too many.

England are almost there and will do well in the 6 nations ,but Borthwick has to decide his best team and keep it.

Not change it about and disrupt the momentum .

Smith has had to readjust to 2 number 9,,s and position on successive weekends . Madness.

Borthwick needs to change his thinking or go.

6 Go to comments

BM 47 minutes ago

Watch on RugbyPass TV: USA Sevens rosters for PR7s All-Star tournament

Can Times for Sevens in USA be added for SH times for watching too please? or not what is Pacific Time in relation to Aussie or NZ Time?

1 Go to comments

Linda Julian (LJ) 53 minutes ago

Scott Robertson addresses Finau and Barrett injuries after France loss

Why don't they try CC in the middle, give him ago! I think he will be very strong and feisty, hopefully the boys are good to play no serious injuries! AB's have us proud, keep it up not long now you all be home with family.......GO ALL BLACKS 🖤🖤🖤

8 Go to comments

Another 59 minutes ago

World Rankings: All Blacks fall, Eagles soar

It is Official that Ireland are the most overrated team in World Rugby right now! 😁

In seriousness, from a NZ perspective:

1 South Africa

2 France

3 New Zealand

4 Ireland

5 Argentina

6 Scotland

7 Australia

8 England

9 Fiji

10 Italy

In terms of trends Australia are on the way up and Ireland on the way down. The rankings don’t yet bear this out, but Australia’s next two matches might make it real. Notably, Ireland have an ageing side but Australia a young side.

I think, from a NZ perspective again, that we have the potential to go top again, but South Africa and France are clearly in the way currently. We do get to play both teams in series in 2025 though, so well worth aiming for that.

7 Go to comments

JK 1 hour ago

Players defend Steve Borthwick as England future questioned

For whatever reason England is not clicking. Either bin the coach or change out some of the players. More of the same will yield the same results - some good play, some crap but general inconsistency

England has the population, wealth and history to be a top 5 rugby nation but it's not currently. Start from reality

6 Go to comments

robbo 1 hour ago

Australia player ratings vs Wales | 2024 Autumn Nations Series

What a shallow set of ratings. Kellaway 5.5? Because he did nothing flash? he held the team together during the red card, filling every gap that opened up. An 8.5 to 9.0 every day

4 Go to comments

fl 1 hour ago

England A player ratings vs Australia A | 2024 Autumn Nations Series

Too early for him.

At 8, there's no way he could start ahead of Doris or Earl, and currently he's probably also a bit of a way behind Fagerson, Dempsey, Dombrandt, or Conan. At 7 his defence isn't good enough for international rugby.

He needs to spend the year bulking up, working on his defence, and winning the u20 world cup. Then this time next year he'll be able to seriously challenge for the England no.8 shirt.

12 Go to comments

Icefarrow 1 hour ago

Report: All Black Harry Pummer in talks with Top 14's Clermont

4th in line. Perofeta is ahead of him at both the Blues and All Blacks. His actual starting position is Centre, been used at Fullback and First Five-Eight due to injuries.

A shame he may be going, plenty of potential.

2 Go to comments

GrahamVF 1 hour ago

Springboks make 12 changes and move away from 7/1 bench split

And yet .... they win.

65 Go to comments

Cantab 1 hour ago

World Rankings: All Blacks fall, Eagles soar

Ireland & England could be even money but Australia more likely to be 4th as they have the joy of playing away to the Boks . NZ are still improving and Aussie don't have the depth to consistently trouble the top sides

7 Go to comments

fl 1 hour ago

The 'rare skill' Henry Pollock has as England camp expect bright future

great player - but I think his future lies at 8.

I didn't see the game on Sunday, but every time I have seen him play his defensive workrate and positioning has looked an issue. If he's an 8, his attacking play and jackaling is more than enough to make up for that, but if he's a 7 he's going to limit who can be selected at 6 and 8, as there needs to be at least one really top drawer defender in the back row.

2 Go to comments

DP 1 hour ago

Warren Gatland directly addresses his potential sacking

This clown. Doesn’t have the decency to resign. WRU cash strapped while he sits on £600k and can’t compete against a side he destroyed at the World Cup a year ago.

5 Go to comments

DrinkAwayTheConcussion 1 hour ago

Scott Robertson addresses Finau and Barrett injuries after France loss

I’m not as harsh on the midfield as that, I like the Jordie/Rieko combo skill set wise, it’s more their use.

Just battering ram up the middle type stuff, I’d prefer they used the ball more and tried to manipulate one-on-ones.

Rieko’s defense at 13 is unmatched unfortunately and it was the biggest criticism of him a few years back.

(Incidentally I swear he made his starting debut at 13 against France in 2016 but maybe not.)

Proctor has some defense work to sort out, if he does then it will be hard to keep him out.