Chile battle hard in defeat against Samoa

The first of two Pool D matches this weekend saw Chile facing Samoa for the first-time. After a competitive opening half, Samoa were too good in the second as they finished 43-10 winners. The win sees Samoa joining Japan as joint leaders of the Pool. This will change tomorrow based on the outcome of England vs Japan. 

The battle of the South Pacific saw Samoa fielding 3/23 homegrown players. There were two former Wallabies and two former All Blacks starting. Samoa had six Australian u20 players and nine New Zealand u20 players. Chile’s team was 23/23 homegrown.

The rugby played in Bordeaux was a clash of styles; Samoa’s physicality was up against Los Cóndores’ mission to play with flair. It was also a game of two halves. Chile were in the contest throughout the first half; indeed, captain Martín Sigren said that they thought had a shot at winning.

Samoa opened the scoring early. Four years after playing for Australia against Uruguay at Rugby World Cup 2019 in Oita, Japan, Christian Leali’ifano opened the scoring for Samoa in Bordeaux, France.

Los Cóndores responded to score the game’s first try. A wide pass from Iñaki Ayarza to Rodrigo Fernández saw the fly half stepping in and throwing a dummy. He found Marcelo Torrealba who was tackled deep inside the opposition 22. Chile then went to their big men. The forwards charged with the try zone in sight. Matías Dittus went low and drove over to score in the left corner. Santiago Videla converted from near the sideline. 

Chile had the lead and were also a player up. Australian u20 center UJ Seuteni was yellow carded for a late charge in the lead-up to the try. It was the first of five yellow cards given by referee Paul Williams in the match.

Samoa responded through the boot. Leali’ifano landed two more penalties to put Samoa back in the lead. Discipline was harming Los Cóndores; Samoa had been awarded five penalties after twelve minutes while Samoa were yet to be penalized. 

An aggressive tackle from Santiago Videla saw Samoa losing possession. It was also the end of Videla’s participation as he failed an HIA. This saw Pablo Casas on for his first taste of the Rugby World Cup.

Videla watched-on with Matías Garafulic kicking Chile hack in to the lead. His 30th minute penalty would be Chile’s last score of the match. Discipline continued to be a problem as the South Americans conceded their 8th penalty of the half in the 34th minute.

A fifth change of the lead followed with Leali’ifano on target from the kicking-tee. There would be no further changes of the lead as Samoa ended the half with their opening try of the tournament. From a scrum, Samoa kicked through with Wallaby Duncan Paia’aua scoring in the corner.

Samoa’s strong end to the first-half carried over into the second-half. A set piece move culminated in a try to Jonathan Taumateine. The New Zealander u20 scrum-half dived over to take Samoa past 20 points. Leali’ifano missed the conversion from a wide angle. 

Samoa scored two further tries five minutes apart. Both were from lineout to maul drives from five meters out from Chile’s defensive try zone. Flanker Fritz Lee scored the first while Australia u20 hooker Sama Malolo scored the second. Samoa had the win secured and the bonus point too.

Within minutes both teams lost players to yellow cards. Alfonso Escobar and Ereatara Enari were both checked by the TMO bunker for foul play but both were cleared. Before Escobar returned Esteban Inostroza was yellow carded as Paul Williams decided Chile had made too many infringements. 

The game came to a close with Samoa scoring their fifth try. Malolo bagged a double. Again it was from a lineout to maul drive. All Black Lima Sopoaga landed the conversion as Samoa now turn their attention across the Andes from Chile to Argentina.

Samoa face Argentina on Friday in Saint Étienne. It will be the second match for both teams. Los Cóndores’ next game with be their third. Chile take-on England in Lille next Saturday.

TEAMS

SAMOA (43)
Try – D Paia’aua (40’); J Taumateine (42’); F Lee (47’); S Malolo (52’, 80’)
Con – C Leali’ifano 2/4 (40’, 53’); L Sopoaga 1/1 (80’)
Pen – Leali’ifano 4/5 (4′, 10′, 14′, 36′)
YC – UJ Seuteni (7’); E Enari (64’)

CHILE (10)
Try – M Dittus (6’)
Con – S Videla 1/1 (7’)
Pen – M Garafulic 1/1 (30’)
YC – A Escobar (63’). E Inostroza (71’)

TEAMS

SAMOA
1 James Lay, 2 Seilala Lam, 3 Michael Alaalatoa (capt.), 4 Chris Vui, 5 Theo McFarland, 6 Taleni Junior Agaese Seu, 7 Fritz Lee, 8 Steven Luatua, 9 Jonathan Taumateine, 10 Christian Leali’ifano, 11 Nigel Ah-Wong, 12 Tumua Manu, 13 UJ Seuteni, 14 Danny Toala, 15 Duncan Paia’aua

Replacements: 16 Sama Malolo, 17 Jordan Lay, 18 Paul Alo-Emile, 19 Sam Slade, 20 Sa Jordan Taufua, 21 Ereatara Enari, 22 Lima Sopoaga, 23 Ed Fidow

CHILE
1 Javier Carrasco, 2 Tomás Dussailant, 3 Matías Dittus, 4 Pablo Huete, 5 Santiago Pedrero, 6 Martín Sigren (Capt.), 7 Clemente Saavedra, 8 Raimundo Martínez, 9 Marcelo Torrealba, 10 Rodrigo Fernández, 11 José Larenas, 12 Matías Garafulic, 13 Domingo Saavedra, 14 Santiago Videla, 15 Iñaki Ayarza

Replacements: 16 Diego Escobar, 17 Salvador Lues, 18 Esteban Inostroza, 19 Javier Eissmann, 20 Alfonso Escobar, 21 Ignacio Silva, 22 Benjamin Videla, 23 Pablo Casas

MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Angus Gardner (Australia); James Doleman (New Zealand)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Australia)