Fortunate Samoa overcome Russia challenge

Samoa opened their Rugby World Cup account with a 34-9 victory over Russia, but it was not without controversy. Two dangerous tackles in the first half will be debated, but in the end the Manu were just too powerful for a committed but exhausted Russian side.

Twice the Manu got into scoring position in the early going but inaccuracy at the lineout threw away possession. At last they got a finish after 15 minutes as Alapati Leiua stepped and fended his way over in the right corner. Tusi Pisi’s kick was well off target to leave it at 5-0.

More mistakes cost Samoa immediately. Tim Nanai-Williams dropped the restart and then the defensive line shot up too fast to concede a kickable penalty. Yuri Kushnarev made no mistake to close the gap, and then nailed a second straight in front to take a one-point lead.

Samoa’s discipline only got worse. Reynold Lee-Lo and Motu Matu’u were dispatched within two minutes of each other for head-high challenges on Russian captain Vasili Artemyev. Both escaped with yellow cards that could easily have been red.

Poor tactics from Russia cost them any further points despite the two-man advantage. The Manu were equally disappointing, with handling errors and casual play in their own end nearly giving away free points. Pisi had a penalty attempt but again pushed the ball wide right.

Another incident arrived early in the second half. Samoa came out of the break determined to score and they got it through Afa Amosa, but his knee twisted awkwardly in the high challenge from Kirill Gotovstev. The Russian prop was sent to the bin and Amosa was stretchered off.

Reduced to 14 men, it was the Bears who somehow scored next as Kushnarev fired a snap drop goal over to make it a one-point game. That would turn into eight points within seconds as Ray Niuia popped an inside ball to a flying Ed Fidow, the winger scything clean through the line and in under the posts for a seven pointer.

Fidow had a double just a couple minutes later. Leiua came in off his wing and made good ground before his wing partner took the outside arc in for the try. Pisi landed the conversion this time and Samoa were suddenly 24-9 to the good.

The attrition of playing a second game on just three days rest was now taking its toll on the Russians. Simple hands put Reynold Lee-Lo in for the fifth try. The Bears came close through their forwards in the dying moments but were held out, and instead if was Leiua who powered over for his second try to bring up full-time.

Next up for Samoa is a clash against Scotland at Misaki Stadium in Kobe on Monday. Russia will enjoy a well-earned break before taking on Ireland at the same venue on Thursday, October 3.

 

SCORING

RUSSIA 9
Pens – Y. Kushnarev 2/2 (19’, 25’)
Drop goals – Y. Kushnarev 1/1 (48’)
Yellow cards – K. Gotovtsev (44’)

SAMOA 34
Tries – A. Leiua 2 (15’, 80′), A. Amosa (44’), E. Fidow 2 (49’, 53’), R. Lee-Lo (63’)
Cons – T. Pisi 2/5 (50’, 54’), A. Alatimu 0/1
Pens – T. Pisi 0/1
Yellow cards – R. Lee-Lo (28’), M. Matu’u (30’)

 

TEAMS

RUSSIA
1 Valeri Morozov (17 Andrei Polivalov 59’), 2 Stanislav Selskiy (16 Evgeny Matveev 17’-28’, 57’), 3 Kirill Gotovtsev (18 Azamat Bitiev 71’), 4 Andrei Ostrikov (19 Andrei Garbuzov 65’), 5 Bogdan Fedotko, 6 Vitali Zhivatov, 7 Tagir Gadzhiev, 8 Nikita Vavilin (20 Anton Sychev 65’), 9 Vasili Dorofeev (21 Dmitri Perov 54’), 10 Yuri Kushnarev (22 Ramil Gaisin 54’), 11 Kirill Golosnitskiy, 12 Dmitri Gerasimov (23 Vladislav Sozonov 65’), 13 Vladimir Ostroushko, 14 German Davydov, 15 Vasili Artemyev (capt.)

SAMOA
1 Logovi’i Mulipola (18 Jordan Lay 51’), 2 Motu Matu’u (16 Ray Niuia HT), 3 Michael Ala’alatoa (17 Paul Alo-Emile 54’), 4 Filo Paulo (19 Senio Toleafoa 65’), 5 Kane Leaupepe, 6 Chris Vui (capt.), 7 TJ Ioane, 8 Afa Amosa (16 Ray Niuia 31’-HT) (20 Josh Tyrell 45’), 9 Dwayne Polataivao (21 Melani Matavao 54’), 10 Tusi Pisi (22 AJ Alatimu 65’), 11 Ed Fidow, 12 Henry Taefu, 12 Reynold Lee-Lo, 14 Alapati Leiua, 15 Tim Nanai-Williams (23 Ulupano Seuteni 65’)

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistants: Jérôme Garcès (France) & Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)