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Manu Samoa’s Pacific Nations Cup campaign is back on track.
photo: World Rugby
Manu Samoa got their Pacific Nations Cup campaign back on track with a 43-17 win over Tonga in Apia tonight.
The win puts Samoa back in contention for the top two spots in the Pacific Division.
Samoa beat Tonga 43-17 in Apia to extend their 44-year unbeaten home run to 20 games and keep alive their hopes of a fifth Pacific Nations Cup title.
Although Samoa’s performance was littered with handling errors, it was still a very good performance for Tonga, who were participating in the tournament for the first time.
However, Samoa may be disappointed with their stamina fading, as they did against Fiji when they were already 29-0 ahead after 49 minutes.
With the bonus point win, Samoa jumped to the top of Group A, level with Fiji on five points but with one more game played.
It was also a perfect finale to the centenary celebrations of Test rugby in the country, which were hosted by Lakapi Samoa and lasted a full week.
Head coach Mase Mahonri Schwalger made six personnel changes and one positional tweak to the starting XI that lost 42-16 to Fiji in Suva last weekend.
The move paid off, with Samoa dominating the forward line, led by feisty hooker Samar Malolo and captain Theo McFarlane.
This was Tonga’s first series of the year and they came out strong after the kick-off, but it was Samoa who scored first.
Outside center Stacey Ili made a nice run inside Tonga territory for a touchdown, and halfback Alai D’Amgelo Leuila scored to give Samoa an early 7-0 lead.
Samoa tops Group A, tied with Fiji on five points but having played one more game.
photo: World Rugby
Three minutes later the home side scored again, this time when agile centre-back Melani Matavao broke through the retreating Tongan defence to get a chance.
His Samoa Sevens team-mate, Moana Pacific Island recruit Tuna Tuitama, was playing his second Test match in two weeks, running unhurriedly in the corner.
The team led 14-0 in the first quarter and 17-0 at halftime.
In the second quarter, Manu Samoa scored another 26 points. They ended up scoring six goals while Tonga only scored two.
Tonga, led by giant Ben Tameifuna, rediscovered their form in the second half and scored 17 points.
With 10 minutes left in the game, Samoa led 29-17 and Tonga had opportunities to score more points.
But basic mistakes and poor defense worked against them.
Tonga will host Fiji on September 6 in Nuku’alofa.
They need to win the game to have a chance of advancing further in the series.
The third-place team from the Pacific group will face the third-place team from the Asian group, which includes Japan, Canada and the United States.
The top two teams from each group will play in the semi-finals in Tokyo.
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