🚧 Beta Version: We’re refining things - tell us what you think and help us improve!
Syncing...
Scores
SAM vs TGA
Pacific Nations Cup
Apia Park, Apia
Samoa
vs
Tonga
43
FT
17
Action
Lineups
All
Facts Only
All
Full-Time: 43 - 17
Samoa have registered a sixth consecutive victory over Tonga and all but sealed their place in the semi-finals of the Pacific Nations Cup. Make sure you join me again on Tribe on Sunday afternoon, for the all North American clash in Pool B between the USA and Canada. It's been a pleasure bringing you all the action from Apia Park in the Samoan capital this afternoon. For now, Harrison Ryburn signing out.
A fourth consecutive defeat for Tonga, and they were well beaten again here this afternoon. They struggled to match the physical effort of Samoa up front, and despite a couple of solid defensive sets, couldn't contain their opponents with the amount of possession and territory they afforded. Their lack of potence and accuracy with ball in hand was very noticeable too, and it took them 48 minutes to get their first points on the board through Pellegrini, before Lotu Inisi single-handedly kept the Ikale Tahi in the contest with a couple of superb individual tries in the final half hour. He was undeniably Tonga's best with his powerful ball carrying, whilst captain Tameifuna also tried to inspire his side up front. Pellegrini and Foliaki had a couple of nice touches, but this was another tough afternoon for coach Tevita Tu'ifua, and they'll welcome Fiji to Nuku'alofa next week as big underdogs again.
A perfect afternoon for Manu Samoa in Apia today, who shoot up to join Fiji at the top of the Pool A standings. It's also the perfect result to cap off a week celebrating 100 years of rugby union in Samoa with a number of former internationals, made even more special by securing victory over their arch-rivals. They were levels abve their opponents for the vast majority, albeit without a minor scare in the final half hour, dictating the contest with a dominant physical effort up front. The ball carrying of Sama Malolo, Sam Slade, Theo McFarland, and Izaiha Moore-Aiono was huge throughout, providing constant front-foot ball for Iona and Matavao to distribute. The halves pairing were impressive in that right, whilst both wingers Alosio and Tuitama had their moments out wide. They'll now get a week off, before likely returning for a Pacific Nations Cup semi-final in Tokyo in two weeks time.
Fulltime in Apia and Samoa have proven too good for South Pacific rivals Tonga once again. Holding a seventeen-point lead at the break, the Ikale Tahi threatened a late comeback when Lotu Inisi scored twice, but the hosts held their nerve, scoring two tries of their own in the final ten minutes through Moore-Aiono and Slade to seal their third win of 2024, and first in the Pacific Nations Cup. It's a strong response after their defeat to Fiji last week, and a result that extends their unbeaten steak against Tonga to six.
80+3'
Inisi carries into contact as the first reciever, but he's taken back in a big defensive shot from Lalomilo. Tonga remain 20m out, and Salakia muscles through a couple of defenders to get them within 10. The Samoan defence holds firm though, and it's Slade who gets in over the ball at the breakdown to win the penalty. Iona kicks to touch and that will do it.
80+2'
Tonga opt for the scrum 20m from the try-line, and they get the penalty with a big shove. They'll pack another one down with the clock well into the red.
80'
The line-out is good for Tonga, and they look to counter-attack too, keeping the ball in hand inside their own 22. It's sevens rugby late on, and Inisi breaks up over halfway on another strong burst. The Ikale Tahi eventually get the penalty, with offside called against the hosts.
79'
Curry picks up the restart inside his own 22, and the replacement breaks straight through the Tongan defence to advance over halfway. Samoa spread it wide to the right for Alosio, but he can't evade his defender and is pushed over the sideline 25m from the try-line.
78'
Iona adds another conversion late on.