Double for Evans as Wales beat Samoa

Steff Evans’ first two international tries gave an inexperienced Wales side a 19-17 victory over Samoa at a sodden Apia Park on Friday.

Robin McBryde fielded another new-look line up for the second and final match of the tour following the defeat of Tonga and they passed a big physical test to head home with a first win in Samoa.

Wing Evans made his debut against Tonga in Auckland and crossed twice in the second half of his second Test after Sam Davies scored nine points with the boot before the break.

The Pacific Islanders were thrashed 78-0 by New Zealand a week ago, but led for much of a match played in testing conditions, with a converted Alapati Leiua try and a Tusi Pisi penalty putting them 10-0 up early on.

Manu Leiataua’s score put Samoa back in front after Evans’ first try, but the Scarlets wing went over again six minutes from time to give the tourists a narrow success.

FULL TIME: SAMOA 17-19 WALES. History in the making as McBryde’s youngsters make it a first Test win for Wales on Samoan soil. Anhygoel!  pic.twitter.com/Mir9SPJMYN

— Welsh Rugby Union (@WelshRugbyUnion) June 23, 2017

Samoa, still smarting from their mauling at the hands of the All Blacks, made a positive start and were rewarded when Leiua crossed in the corner.

Pisi added the extras and slotted over a penalty to leave Wales with work to do, but three Davies penalties cut the gap to just a point at half-time.

Wales caught Samoa cold soon after the interval, when fly-half Pisi’s kick was charged down by Josh Navidi and Ellis Jenkins kicked forward before the ball was eventually tossed out to Evans, who was left with a simple finish.

Samoa regained the lead through hooker Leiataua, who slid over in the corner to punish some poor defending from Wales and Pisi converted to give the hosts a three-point lead.

Wales were not finished yet, though, and Evans had the final say when he was again picked out on the left and applied the finish in the corner following good work from the forwards.