Samoa 62-4 France: Samoa to meet Tonga in World Cup quarter-finals

Drew Darbyshire 30 Oct 2022 6:50 PM

Samoa will take on their Pacific neighbours Tonga in the World Cup quarter-finals next weekend after beating France 62-4 in Warrington.

Samoa’s win over France sees them finish second in Group A. Matt Parish’s side have comfortably beaten Greece and Samoa since their 60-6 defeat to England in the opening game of the tournament.

Meanwhile, France have bowed out of the World Cup having finished third. Their only win of the tournament came against debutants Greece.

Samoa take on Tonga in a Pasifika clash at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington on Sunday, 2:30pm kick-off.

Penrith Panthers winger Taylan May was the standout star for Samoa, having scored four tries.

It was Tim Lafai who opened the scoring for Samoa inside six minutes before winger Brian To’o went over.

May got the first of his four tries when he scored in the 21st minute, before getting his second 10 minutes later.

He completed a first-half hat-trick when he dived over just before the half-time hooter to give his side a 28-0 lead at the break.

HT: Samoa 28-0 France

May got his fourth just three minutes into the second half, before To’o got his second to put the game out of reach for the French.

France got their first try of the game in the 52nd minute through Catalans Dragons flier Fouad Yaha.

It was all Samoa for the rest of the game as Anthony Milford (2) and Lafai, Chanel Harris-Tavita went over for further tries to wrap up a 62-4 win and set up a Pasifika showdown with Tonga in the quarter-finals.

Samoa: Sua’ali’i; To’o, Crichton, Lafai, Taylan May; Luai, Milford; Hunt, Levi, Paulo, Sao, Su’A, Kaufusi. Subs: Harris-Tavita, Papali’i, Leniu, Taupa’u.

Tries: Lafai (2), To’o (2), Taylan May (4), Milford (2), Harris-Tavita Goals: Crichton 9

France: Mourgue; Romano, Langi, Laguerre, Yaha; Rougé, Gigot; Dezaria, Da Costa, Springer, Jullien, Séguier, Garcia. Subs: Sangaré, Pélissier, Goudemand, Puech.

Tries: Yaha Goals:

Attendance: 6,756

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HT: Samoa 28-0 France

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