Samoa Qualify for RWC 2019

Samoa have qualified for RWC 2019. The Pacific Islanders booked their place in next year’s World Cup in Japan by defeating Germany 42-28 today, winning 108-43 on aggregate in their two-match RWC qualifying series. In doing so Samoa maintain their proud record of having competed in every RWC aside from the inaugural tournament in 1987.

Having won Game One of the two-match RWC qualifying series 66-15 Samoa went into today’s match as red-hot favorites. In order for Samoa to miss out on qualifying as the Play-Off Winner they needed to lose by a larger score than their win in Apia.

The attitude of the Samoan players towards the match was not that of a team putting their all into the fixture. A sloppy performance from the men in blue meant Samoa did not have a memorable final qualifier against Germany. Indeed Germany was the superior side in the opening half and deservedly held a 15-14 advantage at half time.

Ed Fidow struck first for Samoa just a minute in with Ahsee Tuala’s conversion setting the Germans back another seven points. The hosts showed they were not to be bowled over this time, however, and first it was flanker Jaco Otto burrowing over from close range with prop Samy Füchsel found loitering on the wing for a second try soon after.

Samoa looked to have woken up when Logovi’i Mulipola blasted straight through the middle and offloaded to Melani Matavao for a try just before halftime. There was still time on the clock for Germany to respond from the boot of Christopher Hilsenbeck.

The second half started with a bang. A second try to Matavao handed Samoa a 21-15 advantage. While the signs were ominous it would be Germany who would respond smartly. An excellent team try finished by Jarrid Els restored Germany’s lead. Two penalties stretched it to a converted try, the first from Hilsenbeck and the second a tremendous effort from Marcel Coetzee from nearly 60 meters out.

Three late tries saved Samoa the embarrassment of defeat. Tuala grabbed a pair with Fidow’s second sandwiched in between. The strength of the Samoan bench proved a decisive factor with Germany unable to close out the game in the final quarter.

The result means that Samoa qualifies for RWC 2019 as the fifth and final participant in Pool A. It also confirms Germany’s place in the Repechage competition this November, where they will face Canada, Hong Kong, and an African representative to be determined for the 20th and final spot in RWC 2019.

Samoa will open their World Cup campaign in Kumagaya on Tuesday, September 24, 2019. They will do so against Russia who will be backing-up from playing against Japan in the tournament opener in Tokyo on September 20. Game two for Samoa will be in Kobe against Scotland on September 30.

Samoa’s schedule will be able to be navigated by careful planning. It sees Samoa not required to play on a three or four day turn-around unlike a number of other Tier 2 countries. Samoa will face Japan on October 5 in Toyota and Ireland on October 12 in Fukuoka in their third and fourth Pool matches.

 

SCORING

GERMANY 28
Tries – J. Otto (7′), S. Füchsel (17′), J. Els (48′)
Cons – R. Parkinson 1/2 (8′), C. Hilsenbeck 1/1 (49′)
Pens – R. Parkinson 0/1, Hilsenbeck 2/2 (40′, 63′), Coetzee 1/1 (66′)

SAMOA 42
Tries – E. Fidow 2 (1′, 75′), Matavao 2 (35′, 45′), Tuala 2 (68′, 79′)
Cons – A. Tuala 6/6 (2′, 36′, 46′, 69′, 76′, 80′)

 

TEAMS

GERMANY
1 Julius Nostadt (18 Jörn Schröder 47′), 2 Mark Fairhurst (16 Mika Tyumenev 60′), 3 Samy Füchsel (19 Matthias Schösser 54′), 4 Eric Marks (17 Luke Dyckhoff 70′), 5 Timo Vollenkemper, 6 Sebastian Ferreira (20 Marcel Henn 60′), 7 Jaco Otto, 8 Jarrid Els, 9 Sean Armstrong (capt.), 10 Hagen Schulte (21 Tim Menzel 67′), 11 Marcel Coetzee (23 Florian Wehrspann 76′), 12 Raynor Parkinson (22 Nikolai Klewinghaus 62′), 13 Mathieu Ducau, 14 Rafael Pyrasch, 15 Christopher Hilsenbeck

SAMOA
1 Logovi’i Mulipola (17 Jordan Lay 62′), 2 Motu Matu’u (16 Seilala Lam HT), 3 Paul Alo-Emile (18 Viliamu Afatia 58′), 4 Joe Tekori, 5 Brandon Nansen (20 TJ Ioane 58′), 6 Chris Vui (capt.), 7 Jack Lam, 8 Ofisa Treviranus (19 Mathew Luamanu 74′), 9 Melani Matavao (21 Ionatana Tino 62′), 10 Patrick Fa’apale (22 Rodney Iona 76′), 11 Sinoti Sinoti (23 Alofa Alofa 76′), 12 Tusi Pisi, 13 Paul Perez, 14 Ed Fidow, 15 Ahsee Tuala

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
Assistants: Craig Maxwell-Keys (RFU) & Ian Tempest (RFU)