Clutch! USA snatch injury-time victory over Samoa in Pacific Nations Cup
The United States’ World Cup preparation continues to build momentum after first-five AJ MacGinty slotted an injury-time penalty to hand the Eagles a 13-10 victory over Samoa in Suva on Saturday afternoon.
Playing in wet conditions – although on a much better playing surface than what was seen during Samoa’s win over Tonga in Apia last week – in front of a dismal crowd at ANZ National Stadium, Manu Samoa stood firm to hold out a rampant American outfit in the dying stages of the contest with some solid defence deep inside their own half.
However, an infringement by reserve prop Alofaaga Sao from a lineout inside his own 22 metre mark handed Sale Sharks pivot MacGinty an opportunity to snatch the result with a penalty kick three minutes into injury time.
The Irish-born 29-year-old duly converted, shaving the inside of the right-hand post to hand the USA a rare victory over Samoa – just their second-ever from seven matches.
The result adds to the Eagles’ 47-19 thrashing of Canada last week, leaving them at the summit of their pool in the Pacific Nations Cup.
As it stands, they sit on nine points from two matches and remain frontrunners to win their maiden Pacific Nations Cup title after their inception into the competition 13 years ago.
Gary Gold’s side opened the scoring just three minutes into the match, with MacGinty landing a penalty to hand his side an early 3-0 lead.
Samoa hit back three minutes afterwards, though, with veteran wing Alapati Leiua scoring under the posts, making the AJ Alatimu’s conversion attempt an easy one.
MacGinty’s scoring run continued after 19 minutes, with the star first-five challenging the defensive line with some tidy running angles to split some opposition defenders and crash over to re-take the lead.
He converted his own try, giving the States a slender lead at 10-7.
There was a 53-minute wait until the next scoring play, with Samoan second-five Henry Taefu slotting a penalty from 30 metres out with only seven minutes remaining, setting up an enticing affair late on in the piece.
The Eagles refused to relent, however, and Sao’s agony was MacGinty’s joy, with the playmaker’s 83rd-minute penalty making him the USA’s only point-scorer on the clash.
The world’s 15th-ranked side will remain in the Fijian capital for their final Pacific Nations Cup bout against Japan next week, which could shape up to effectively act as the final of the competition should the Brave Blossoms defeat Tonga in Osaka on Saturday evening.
As for Samoa, they will hope to salvage a result against Fiji next week before heading into the home straight of their World Cup preparation.
USA 13 (Try to AJ MacGinty; conversion and two penalties to MacGinty)
Samoa 10 (Try to Alapati Leiua; conversion to AJ Alatimu, penalty to Henry Taefu)
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Comments on RugbyPass
Good luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to comments