Samoa put in a much-improved second-half display to dispatch Russia 34-9 in their opening Rugby World Cup match.
Steve Jackson’s side struggled to get out of first gear in a frantic first-half at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium, but their quality told after the interval – Afaesetiti Amosa and Ed Fidow combining for three tries in the space of eight minutes.
Russia looked to have the upper hand when Rey Le-Lo and Motu Matu’u were sin-binned prior to the break, but the Bears – 30-10 losers to hosts Japan in their opening Pool A fixture – failed to take advantage.
Samoa showed no such profligacy when Kirill Gotovtsev was sent to the sidelines for his desperate foul on Amosa, Fidow’s quick double securing the bonus point prior to late tries from Le-Lo and Alapati Leiua.
Fidow looked set to put Samoa ahead in the ninth minute, only to fumble five yards short of Russia’s line, but Leiua made no such mistake from Tim Nanai-Williams’ excellent pass.
Yury Kushnarev converted two quickfire penalties to nose Lyn Jones’ side in front, and Le-Lo was fortunate to escape with a yellow for a high tackle on Vasily Artemyev before Samoa were reduced to 13 when Matu’u was cautioned for a challenge on the same former Blackrock College man in which he came off worse.
28 Yellow Card!
— eir Sport (@eirSport) September 24, 2019
Is Rey Lee-Lo lucky that it is not red? The ball carrier dipping slightly is the big mitigating factor.
Here's how the TMO & referee saw it.#RWC2019 #RUSvSAM pic.twitter.com/58hJQNDXvM
30: Yellow card!
— eir Sport (@eirSport) September 24, 2019
Samoa are down to 13 men for ten minutes after their second yellow card in the space of two minutes.
Correct decision?
LIVE now on eir sport 1! #RWC2019 #RUSvSAM pic.twitter.com/vi4h79ZTmT
But with Russia failing to make their numerical advantage count, Samoa clicked up a gear after the interval and, despite Gotovtsev’s efforts, retook the lead thanks to Amoso, who was injured in the process.
Russia pulled back to within one point when Kushnarev kicked a long-range drop-goal, but they would not score again, as Fidow’s double put Samoa out of sight.
Le-Lo scrambled over to further compound Russia’s misery, with Leiua having the final say when he powered down the right to help himself to a second.
Refereeing issues come to the fore again
World Rugby issued a statement on Tuesday expressing their disappointment at the standard of refereeing across the opening weekend of the tournament, and the officials were again put into focus in Kumagaya.
Le-Lo got lucky when he was only cautioned for his tackle on Artemyev, who was ducking slightly, before Russia’s captain was the recipient of Matu’u's awkward hit moments later. Both challenges could easily have been worthy of red cards.
Matu’u appeared to lose consciousness following his collision with Artemyev, though the hooker seemed ready to come back on until the medics intervened, rightly deeming it too much of a risk for the player to continue.
- Omni
