Samoa upset Argentina in APC opener

Samoa ‘A’ ended the Argentina XV’s two-year unbeaten run in the Americas Pacific Challenge with a stunning 36-31 victory on Saturday. The Argentines outscored Samoa five tries to four but 14 points from the boot of D’Angelo Leuila proved the difference.

It was an incredible start for the Samoans who ran up an 18-point lead by the 22 minute mark. Mikaele Tapili was found loitering on the wing for the first try, with Johnny Vaili winning the race to a kick ahead by Patrick Fa’apale. Leuila sent over two penalties and Argentina were in danger of being routed.

They responded at last after Rodney Tapu was sent to the bin. The overlap was exploited first by Juan Bautista Daireaux and then Leopoldo Herrera. Joaquín Díaz Bonilla landed both conversions to reduce the gap to only four points at the break.

The Samoans were again fastest out of the gate after the intermission. Leuila nailed his third penalty and then Johnny Samuelu had the pace to beat Herrera to the corner. One more from Leuila and Samoa were nearly home free.

With replacements streaming onto the field Axel Zapata wrapped around the back of a maul to give Argentina some hope. A mistake on a high ball cost them dearly. Jacob Mapu scored with a sensational individual effort, reeling in the ball and spring in from beyond half way with a highlight reel finish powering through two defenders on the way.

Late scores from Santiago Carreras and Santiago Portillo secured two losing bonus points for Argentina but Samoa were celebrating a five-point win. Argentina will play Canada on Wednesday, and Samoa will face Pacific neighbors Tonga.

 

SCORING

ARGENTINA 31
Tries – J. Daireaux (25’), L. Herrera (35’), A. Zapata (66’), S. Carreras (75’), S. Portillo (80’)
Cons – J. Díaz Bonilla 2/2 (26’, 36’), D. Miotti 1/3 (80’)

SAMOA 36
Tries – M. Tapili (8’), J. Vaili (14’), J. Samuelu (52’), J. Mapu (71’)
Cons – D. Leuila 1/3 (72’), P. Fa’apale 1/1 (15’)
Pens – D. Leuila 4/4 (17’, 22’, 47’, 59’)
Yellow cards – R. Tapu (23’)

 

TEAMS

ARGENTINA XV
1 Nicolás Solveyra, 2 Gaspar Baldunciel, 3 Marco Ciccioli, 4 Santiago Portillo, 5 Ignacio Larrague, 6 Francisco Gorrissen, 7 Lautaro Bavaro (capt.), 8 Rodrigo Bruni, 9 Gregorio del Prete, 10 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, 11 Federico Giménez, 12 Lucas Mensa, 13 Matías Osadczuk, 14 Leopoldo Herrera, 15 Juan Bautista Daireaux

Replacements: 16 Axel Zapata, 17 Franco Brarda, 18 Lucio Sordoni, 19 Lucas Paulos, 20 Nicolás Sbrocco, 21 Luca Magnasco, 22 Domingo Miotti, 23 Santiago Carreras

SAMOA ‘A’
1 Setu Enoka, 2 Afa Aiono (capt.), 3 Rodney Tapu, 4 Mikaele Tapili, 5 Ikifusi Matamu, 6 Bruce Kaino, 7 Jacob Mapu, 8 Potu Leavasa Jr., 9 Ionatana Tino, 10 Patrick Fa’apale, 11 Measala Seamalo, 12 D’Angelo Leuila, 13 Alefosio Tapili, 14 Johnny Samuelu, 15 Johnny Vaili

Replacements: 16 Leo Brown, 17 Brook To’omalatai, 18 Tuaniu Tuaniu, 19 Elia Togitele, 20 Joseph Fuimaono, 21 Danny Tusitala, 22 Ivan Safua, 23 Paulo Scanlan

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Shuhei Kubo (JRFU)
Assistants: Joaquín Montes (URU) & Martín Bangueses (URU)