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Samoa will face Argentina at Rugby World Cup 2023. It will mark the first meeting at a RWC between the countries this millennium. They previously met at RWCs 1991 in Pontypridd, Wales; 1995 in East London, South Africa; and 1999 in Llanelli, Wales.
Samoa qualified for RWC 2023 earlier today in Hamilton, New Zealand. The men in blue were 37-15 winners over Tonga in the second of two RWC qualifiers between the teams. Having earlier been 42-13 winners in game one, Samoa qualified for RWC 2023 with a 79-28 aggregate.
The outcome is that Samoa will now face Argentina at RWC 2023. The group also contains RWC 2019 finalists England and RWC 2019 hosts Japan. In short, four of the five participants in Pool D are now confirmed.
The remaining competitor is of great interest not only to Argentina but to all of the Americas. The qualifier will be Americas 2. Uruguay host Chile on Sunday in a match that will help shape who becomes Americas 2.
It is too early to predict the final outcome of the Americas’ RWC 2023 qualifiers. Americas 2 could be either Uruguay or Chile and it could also be Brazil, Canada or the USA.
Samoa will open their RWC 2023 campaign on Saturday, September 16. Their first match will be against Americas 2 in Bordeaux. They will then face Argentina at the Stade Geoffroy Guichard in Saint-Étienne six days later. Matches will follow against Japan in Toulouse on Thursday, September 28 and against England in Lille on Saturday, October 07.
Tonga are not eliminated from RWC 2023 qualifying; in fact, they take on the Cook Islands next weekend. The winner of that RWC qualifier will qualify for the next round in the Asia / Pacific play-off.
TEAMS
TONGA
1 Jethro Felemi, 2 Suia Maile, 3 Sila Puafisi, 4 Don Lolo, 5 Harrison Mataele, 6 Sione Tu’ipolotu, 7 Mateaki Kafatolu, 8 Nasi Manu, 9 Sonatane Takulua, 10 James Faiva, 11 Hosea Saumaki, 12 Nikolai Foliaki, 13 Fine Inisi, 14 Penikolo Latu, 15 Kailione Hala
Replacements: 16 Jay Fonokalafi, 17 Duke Nginingini, 18 Ben Tameifuna, 19 Maama Vaipulu, 20 Viliami Taulani, 21 Aisea Halo, 22 Nafi Tu’itavake, 23 Walter Fifita
SAMOA
1 Tietie Tuimauga, 2 Ray Niuia, 3 Michael Alaalatoa (capt.), 4 Benjamin Nee-Nee, 5 Samuel Slade, 6 Olajuwon Noa, 7 Alamanda Motuga, 8 Henry Stowers, 9 Jonathan Taumateine, 10 Rodney Iona, 11 Neria Fomai, 12 Henry Taefu, 13 Stacey Ili, 14 Ed Fidow, 15 Tomasi Alosio
Replacements: 16 Seilala Lam, 17 Jonah Aoina, 18 Kalolo Tuiloma, 19 Theo McFarland, 20 Jack Lam, 21 Dwayne Polataivao, 22 D’Angelo Leuila, 23 Losi Filipo
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Dan Waenga (New Zealand); Angus Mabey (New Zealand)
TMO: Chris Hart (New Zealand)
