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‘The cruel nature of sport’: Samoa coach’s ‘heart breaks’ after England loss
Samoa’s Rugby World Cup campaign came to a “disappointing” end on Saturday night. They were minutes away from their first-ever win over England but fell painfully short of history.
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Steve Borthwick’s men didn’t play well – they were far from their best – but they did enough to win 18-17 at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in the final round of pool play.
Led by playmaker Lima Sopoaga, Samoa were simply better for long stretches of the contest. The Pacific Islanders held a slender six-point lead going into the final 10 minutes but couldn’t keep out the relentless waves of England’s attack.
Replacement Danny Care scored a decisive try with eight minutes to play and an Owen Farrell conversion handed England the lead for the first time in about 50 minutes.
The Samoan players looked hurt, frustrated and momentarily broken as the full-time whistle sounded, and the sombre feeling was shared by head coach Seilala Mapusua post-game.
“That was a tough one. If I’m being honest, my heart breaks for these boys,” Mapusua said after the one-point loss. “I thought they deserved a lot more.
“We did enough to earn victory. Such is the cruel nature of sport, it wasn’t to be.”
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Flyhalf Lima Sopoaga, who was awarded Player of the Match honours, couldn’t hide from the pain of defeat as he was presented with his trophy. Prop Michael Alaalatoa looked shattered as well with the camera panning to the Australian-born front-rower just after the full-time whistle.
Samoa started their World Cup campaign with a dominant 43-10 win over Chile but failed to back that up with another positive result on the scoreboard.
Losses to Argentina, Japan and now England saw Sopoaga suggest that the players “didn’t give the jersey the justice it deserved.” But Samoa should hold their heads up high.
“Pride is an understatement,” Mapusua continued. “I thought we were most dominant in most facets.
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“We were able to expose some space in open field, especially in the wider channels, and we were able to stop England for 70 minutes.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Fiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
31 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
31 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
31 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
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