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Samoa player ratings vs USA | Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup
By Jon Newcombe
Samoa claimed third place in the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2024 with a tense 18-13 victory over USA at the Hanazono Rugby Stadium on Saturday.
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The four-time winners of this competition were made to fight all the way for the win against a dogged Eagles outfit that led 10-6 at the break.
Samoa lifted their game in the second half and after repeatedly going close, they managed to manufacture the match-winning score with three minutes to go when Melani Nanai finished brilliantly in the corner.
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Here is how Samoa fared in their win at the Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Osaka.
1. Aki Seiuli – 6.5
Job well done from the loose-head, who followed up winning an early breakdown penalty with one at scrum time. Also did his fair share of carrying and tackling. Has started every game at the Pacific Nations Cup and on this evidence it is easy to see why. Only blot was being slow to roll away on a couple of occasions as he tired as the contest wore on.
2. Sama Malolo – 6.5
Another strong performance from the hooker in the tight and the loose. Only lost one lineout throw and was a superb link man in attack. Will be disappointed by the knock-on at the base of the ruck that led to a disallowed try for left wing Elisapeta Alofipo, plus missing his first tackle of the tournament.
3. Marco Fepuleai – 7
Anchored the scrum really well and never gave an inch in the set-piece or in defence. Almost lasted the distance and was still winning scrum penalties deep into his hard-working shift.
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4. Benjamin Petaia Nee-Nee – 7
Ensured Samoa had their fair share of quality lineout ball and also showed up well whenever in possession in broken play.
5. Michael Curry – 5
Samoa’s only change from the semi-final defeat to Japan had a very quiet first half but managed to win a big turnover at the start of the second before being replaced and, outshone, by Sam Slade.
6. Theo McFarland (c) – 6
Has not quite reached the heights of last year’s World Cup as he adjusts to captaining the team. But there were still some examples of his silky handling skills in the wide channels and at lineout time. Needs to cut out conceding needless penalties though.
7. Izaiha Moore-Aiono – 5.5
Fortunate that a penalty for not rolling away on the stroke of half-time went unpunished. Steamrolled defenders on the couple of occasions when he did carry but he didn’t do enough to merit a higher score. Had a single-figure tackle count, too.
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8. Iakopo Patelo-Mapu – 8
Visibly frustrated by some careless errors in the first half, including a knock on at the base of an advancing scrum, Patelo-Mapu came out fired up for the second half and produced Samoa’s standout moment of the game when he got the ball 25 metres out, broke through two tackles and bounced off another defender to surge under the posts. Was heading for a 3/10 grade until then. Countless big carries followed.
9. Melani Matavao – 7.5
Another busy performance from the livewire nine who needs no invitation to make a break from the base of a ruck. Another quality 61 minutes from Matavao who can look back on this tournament with pride.
10. Rodney Iona – 7
Brought his usual box of tricks and delivered another composed performance in most aspects of the game. Set the tone early on with a neat chip kick over the top for Lalomilo Lalomilo to gather and generally speaking, the former Brumbies player seemed to make the right decisions, execute well and be in the right place at the right time, even managing to use his low centre of gravity to win two turnovers. Slotted a 44-metre effort in the first half but miscued a slightly longer effort in the second, the first of his two misses in front of goal.
11. Elisapeta Alofipo – 5.5
Had a try disallowed in the 55th minute after the TMO spotted the ball had been knocked forward at the preceding ruck. Chased up kicks well and did the basics but didn’t have as many impactful touches as his fellow wing Tuitama.
12. Alapati Leiua – 5
The glue that knits the Samoan backline together. Not the flashiest of performances but the inside inside linked up well when Samoa did get some phases together and also showed his strength in defence, notably winning a maul for holding up Toby Fricker. Replaced at half-time, presumably due to a knock.
13. Lalomilo Lalomilo – 6
A no-frills but solid enough performance from the midfielder. Distribution let him down at times with a few too many lateral passes.
14. Tuna Tuitama – 6.5
Now looks well settled in 15s having crossed over from the sevens circuit. The tournament’s most-dangerous attacker in terms of tackle breaks and line breaks managed to make metres whenever he got the ball, and even threw in a goosestep for good measure towards the end of the first half. Put in a try-saving tackle on Mitch Wilson at the start of the match.
15. Tomasi Alosio – 6.5
Broke into the line well and had a couple of good early runs but mostly his game was focused on marshalling the back field and kicking long, which he did to good effect.
Replacements
16. Luteru Tolai – 6
Came on with 22 minutes to go and managed to hit his lineout jumpers consistently.
17. Andrew Tuala –6
Maintained Samoa’s scrum dominance when he came on after 62 minutes and showed good strength when carrying and tackling.
18. Brook Toomalatai – N/A
Not enough time on the pitch to warrant a rating.
19. Samuel Slade – 7
The perfect reaction to his removal from the starting XV. Came on and made a big impact, in terms of carrying and tackling.
20. Jonah Mau’u – 7.5
Denied a try by inches after a lengthy TMO review as Samoa searched for the matchwinner. Put that disappointment behind him to launch the attack that led to good field position from which Samoa scored with a brilliant 40-metre run down the middle of the field.
21. Danny Tusitala – 6
Matavao is a tough act to follow but again Tusitala didn’t put a foot wrong as Samoa pressed forward in the final quarter.
22. Afa Moleli – 6
Came on with eight minutes to go and came up with the assist for the match-winning try at the end when he slung out an underarm pass under pressure.
23. Melani Nanai – 7
Samoa’s matchwinner. Big players come up with the big moments and the former Blues Super Rugby star delivered. A delightful out-the-back offload apart, Nanai had done very little after coming on at half-time but he came good when it mattered with a brilliant diving finish to seal victory for Samoa.
