SAMOA came through their clash with Russia despite being reduced to 13 players for a period in the first half – but citings for illegal tackles and a torn ACL injury to No.8 Afa Amosa have damaged their tournament hopes. Centre Rey Lee-Lo and hooker Motu Matu'u were both sin-binned for high tackles during the match but an independent disciplinary panel has adjudged both offences worthy of red cards and have handed down three-week bans to the pair.
Tim Nanai-Williams was the provider of the first try as he found winger Alapti Leiua with a floated pass on 16 minutes, but Yury Kushnarev, winning a record 111th cap for Russia, kicked two penalties to give the Europeans a surprise 6-5 lead at the break. Restored to XV men on the field after the return of Lee-Lo and Matu'u, Samoa took full advantage with Amosa bulldozing over on 45 minutes.
Russia had Kirill Gotovtsev yellow carded for a high tackle on Amosa, allowing Ed Fidow, Lee-Lo and Leiua to add to the scoreboard.
TEAMS
RUSSIA: Artemyev (c), Davydov, Ostroushko, Gerasimov (Sozonov 65), Golosnitskiy, Kushnarev (Gaisin 55), Dorofeev (Perov 55); Morozov (Polivalov 59), Selskii (Matveev 57), Gotovtsev (Bitiev 71), Ostrikov (Garbuzov 65), Fedotko, Zhivatov, Gadzhiev, Vavilin (Sychev 65)
SAMOA: Nanai-Williams (Seuteni 65), Leiua, Lee-Lo, Taefu, Fidow, Pisi (Alatimu 65), Polataivao (Matavao 41); Mulipola (Lay 51), Matu'u, Alaalatoa (Alo-Emile 55), Paulo (Toleafoa 65), Le'aupepe, Vui (c), Ioane, Amosa (Tyrell 46)
REFEREE: Romain Poite
ATTENDANCE: 22,564
Star man
Ed Fidow – Samoa
“It was a tough game,” Samoa captain, Chris Vui, said. “We knew Russia were going to come hard in the first 20-40 minutes, we just had to stick it out and I'm really proud of the way the boys came back in the second half. We're here to create a legacy.”
Russia coach Lyn Jones said: “It's very disappointing. The performance wasn't what we expected. However, the short turnaround has affected us tactically and mentally. “It's not the physical deterioration, it was the mental. We just weren't there tonight.”
