Match report
England 18-17 Samoa
Danny Care’s late converted try helped England snatch victory after Samoa led 14-8 at half-time in Lille, and threatened to secure a historic upset.
Ollie Chessum went over for England’s first and while Owen Farrell missed his conversion, he slotted a penalty soon after to surpass Jonny Wilkinson and become England’s all-time points scorer, before Steve Borthwick’s side were rocked by a Samoa fightback.
Nigel Ah-Wong scored twice in quick succession, the second a superb catch from Danny Toala’s high diagonal kick. Duncan Paia’aua appeared to have added a third try for Samoa, but the try was harshly disallowed by the TMO for a knock-on.
England struggled to find any rhythm and Lima Sopoaga stretched Samoa’s lead with a penalty. Farrell hit back with three points of his own, but then made a shocking error with his next place-kick, allowing the shot clock to run down before taking it.
Tumua Manu was then shown a yellow card for hitting Farrell in the air, with Care coming on for Alex Mitchell at scrum-half. He made a quick impact, darting in from a scrum to put England a point behind, with Farrell converting from close range to put them in front.
There was still time for Samoa wing Neria Fomai to burst through and threaten a late winning try, but Care was on hand to bring him down and complete a game-saving late cameo.
Here’s Owen Farrell: “It was scrappy, not the best from us but all credit to Samoa. We didn’t deal with how they played, or with mistakes, but I’m glad we found a way back in.
On the points record: “I don’t know what it means at the minute, I’m still thinking about the game and what it means for us. I might have time to reflect further down the line.”
I’m going to have to move swiftly on to Ireland v Scotland in a moment, but we’ll have a full match report, and plenty of analysis and reaction, on our website tonight.
Full time! England 18-17 Samoa
As we pass 80 minutes, Farrell – punctual this time – hoofs into touch. England have edged a terrific tussle, just outlasting Samoa down the final straight thanks to Danny Care’s try and try-saving tackle. I’m not sure how England won that, but they did, and it’s a heartbreaking defeat for Samoa, who threw everything at their opponents.
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79 mins: Oof, this was close! Samoa sweep upfield again, and Neria Fomai is in space down the left – but Danny Care makes a try-saving tackle, and while it’s offloaded to Motuga, the ball pops loose for England to clear.
78 mins: Steward tries a hopeless kick-through, which Matavao intercepts. “Keep hold of it!” shouts Ugo Monye, and rightly so.
77 mins: Samoa have the ball, and inch into England territory for the first time in a while. Sopoaga is hit with a crunching Martin tackle, though, and England can turn it over.
75 mins: Samoa have had their kicking troubles in this tournament, what with Sopoaga’s lost tee and Leali’ifano’s own woes with the boot. It’ll be interesting if they get in range for a longish penalty, or indeed a drop goal.
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TRY! England 18-17 Samoa (Care 73')
England finally roll the ball back to Care, who collects the ball, peels off and with Samoa watching England’s backs, he darts into space to score! Owen Farrell adds the conversion as the crowd counts down the timer – and England lead!
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72 mins: Another reset coming up. Whatever happens, England would not have expected to be here, six points behind with under 10 minutes to play …
70 mins: The scrum is just grinding away, stopping and starting – it’s taken five minutes out of the game, and Manu will be back on the field in four.
“Farrell has a word about Samoa’s play … are they using their arms in the tackle instead of shoulders?” writes Jon B.
68 mins: Another England attack with Care wriggling towards the line before a Samoan offside penalty. England opt for the scrum; in the ITV commentary booth, Ugo Monye is frustrated that England aren’t getting their dangerous backs involved more often (or at all).
Samoa yellow card (Manu 66')
This could be another inadvertent big moment for Farrell, who is needlessly hit in the air by Tumua Manu. That was a rush of blood, and Samoa will have to defend this lead a man down.
“Getting tackled off the ball is the first good thing Farrell’s done today,” mutters Andy Bradshaw – and that was before that shot-clock aberration. Mitchell’s middling afternoon is over – he’s replaced by Danny Care.
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64 mins: Samoa sense they need fresh legs, and send on Seilala Lam, Alamanda Motuga, scrum-half Melani Matavao and fly-half Christian Leali’ifano, dropped from the starting XV today by Seilala Mapusua.
TIMED OUT! England 11-17 Samoa
Well, this is quite something. Farrell takes his sweet time lining the kick up, then sends it sailing through the posts – but the shot-clock has expired! It won’t count! What a ridiculous error …
63 mins: Paul Alo-Emile smashes into Jamie George, who ends up in a heap on the turf. After a TMO review, it’s an England penalty but no yellow card. Farrell has a word with the referee about Samoa’s physicality, then prepares to take the kick …
62 mins: It’s a third lost lineout for England and George’s delivery is spilled by Martin. The regression on some of the basics today will be a big concern for Borthwick, playing with what is pretty much his team for the quarter-finals.
61 mins: Lovely hands from Ah-Wong to offload to Paia’aua under pressure – but England get it back, George Martin making gains, and get the penalty as replacement James Lay fails to roll away.
59 mins: Tuilagi, whose impact faded after an ominous start, is replaced by Ollie Lawrence, while George Martin comes on for Courtney Lawes.
58 mins: For Samoa, Miracle Faiilagi, Paul Alo-Emile and James Lay come on for Jordan Lay, Alaalatoa and Sam Slade. Play has to be restarted on the field after a high kick hits the spider-cam wire. That’s modern rugby for you.
England 11-17 Samoa (Farrell pen 57')
Owen Farrell takes the three points, landing the kick to move England within a converted try of retaking the lead.
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56 mins: NO TRY! Or not – England regain possession and get an overlap, with Itoje shrugging off Taumateine and finding Joe Marchant, who juggles the ball before sprinting clear. The TMO rules there was a forward pass from Itoje – but there’s also an off-the-ball hit from Toala on Farrell, so England will have a penalty.
55 mins: Joe Marler is on for England, replacing Genge. England go for the line again from the scrum, but Taumateine wins a battle of scrum-halves with the isolated Alex Mitchell – and Samoa clear the danger!
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54 mins: NO TRY! It’s another forensic TMO decision, which suggests Chessum did make it to the line, but made a second movement with his elbow in doing so.
53 mins: England collect the lineout and roll for the line, a heaving, scrappy maul which almost costs Kyle Sinckler his shorts. The blue wall holds until Chessum dives forward, helped by a shove from Ellis Genge. Brace thinks England are short of the line, but it’ll be reviewed …
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52 mins: England get a useful penalty, and Farrell kicks for the corner – he looked to have landed a little gingerly, but it might be nothing. England lineout deep in Samoan territory …
51 mins: Earlier this week, Samoa promised England an “unashamedly Samoan” performance. They have delivered that, with Fritz Lee and Theo McFarland both causing havoc at the breakdown and stopping England from getting any rhythm.
50 mins: Borthwick has seen enough, and brings on Marcus Smith for George Ford. Smith’s arrival is met by cheers from the England fans; it looks like he will slot in at full-back, with Farrell the new fly-half.
49 mins: Vunipola gets beyond the gain line and finds Ben Earl, but a promising move falls flat as Samoa get the penalty.
England 8-17 Samoa (Sopoaga pen 47')
Lima Sopoaga takes the regulation kick and Samoa stretch their lead by 11 points. Kyle Sinckler is on for Dan Cole in the front row.
46 mins: Andrew Brace, who has kept the forwards on a tight leash so far, warns Farrell bout two offsides and a high tackle from Earl. Samoa penalty advantage – but after Ah-Wong is denied in the corner by May – they will kick for goal.
45 mins: Tom Curry suffered a cut in the first half and he needs more work to patch up his bandage. Vunipola comes on, so I think Ben Earl will shift across to No 7.
43 mins: Samoa turn the ball over and sweep downfield, with Paia’aua only stopped from scoring by a terrific George Ford tackle.
ITV reported during half time that Taulupe Faletau is out of the World Cup after suffering a broken arm during Wales’ win over Georgia. A big blow for Warren Gatland’s team.
Peep!
The second half is under way, and Samoa have a scrum.
“Any chance England can try to play Samoa at their own game?” asks Brendan Large. “Maybe get Ford and Farrell off (I know) and get Smith on, let Marchant play in his actual position and get another actual winger on?” Yep, Ford and Farrell together hasn’t worked today. No changes at half-time from Steve Borthwick, though.
This is a really interesting read from Gerard Meagher on Samoa, the RFU and why Tier 2 nations feel overlooked by rugby union.
“The French crowd is constantly chanting « allez les bleus »,” notes Jonathan Guillouet. “How very nice of them!” I caught this happening at the end of the half – I assume they’re collectively backing Samoa in droll fashion.
“What a disgraceful decision to overturn a try after the conversion,” writes Max Reilly. “If you watch any action in slow motion you can find a problem. The TMO should only show replays at full speed.”
“Don’t know how they determined that was a knock on,” adds Paul Fitzgerland. “No amount of replays could clarify one way or the other.” Agreed on all counts, it was a bizarre decision.
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Half time! England 8-14 Samoa
Farrell spills the ball, and the first half is over. England scored first through Chessum, Farrell got his record, and it looked like smooth sailing. But Samoa roared back, Nigel Ah-Wong scoring two excellent tries – with a third for Duncan Paia’aua controversially ruled out.
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39 mins: A better box kick from Mitchell, claimed by Ah-Wong – but Sopoaga is penalised, and Ford can kick for the corner with 40 minutes almost up. If England can somehow get in at half-time ahead, they’ll be delighted.
37 mins: Samoa launch another surge downfield, but England do enough on the floor this time to force a penalty. Joe Marchant wants Ford to launch a crossfield kick out to the right, where he’s in space, but England won’t be taking that kind of chance.
35 mins: The attacking pressure from Samoa is relentless, and this time Ah-Wong buffets over after McFarland makes space – but the touch judge rules it out.
34 mins: NO TRY! Samoa think they have a third try, after Mitchell’s box-kick goes straight up in the air. Tumua Manu goes up for the loose ball with Earl and Itoje, and it bounces kindly for Paia’aua to score. Samoa celebrate, and Sopoaga kicks the conversion – but wait! The TMO has judged that Manu knocked the ball on. It’s not especially clear from the replay – I think that’s a very harsh decision.
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WHAT A TRY! England 8-14 Samoa (Ah-Wong 28')
This is a brilliant piece of skill from Nigel Ah-Wong. Samoa get a penalty advantage, so Danny Toala launches a high diagonal kick that sails over Freddie Steward. It looks too high for Ah-Wong, too, but he collects it on the run and just gets the ball down in the shallow end zone, much like a nimble NFL wide receiver. Sopoaga converts. Samoa lead by six!
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26 mins: Aside from a blistering spell against the group outsiders, Chile, Samoa have struggled to find their attacking flow in this tournament – but they’ve located their swagger today and have England under real pressure.
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25 mins: Samoa come straight back at England, Taumatine offloading through his legs at the scrum and Theo McFarland making big gains before Sama Malolo, the human battering ram, sets sights on the line. The ball squirms loose and Steward gathers, but Samoa will have the scrum.
TRY! England 8-7 Samoa (Ah-Wong 22')
Well then! Samoa put together a superb, stop-start passing move that snakes from right to left and then back to the right corner, where Danny Toala flattens George Ford, before a quick overarm pass finds Nigel Ah-Wong to score in the corner! Sopoaga’s conversion flicks the left-hand post and goes over, and we’ve got a game here.
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19 mins: England 8-0 Samoa The Samoa captain, Michael Alaalatoa, is having some problems keeping his front row locked in at the scrum. He gets a warning from Andy Brace. Here’s the big moment for Farrell:
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Owen Farrell is England's all-time top point scorer!
England go for the posts this time, and Farrell slots the three points! It puts England 8-0 up, and takes his career tally to 1181 – two clear of Jonny Wilkinson. Zero celebration from the captain, who gets a pat on the back from Jamie George.
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16 mins: Jonny May chicanes beyond a tackle before running into Sama Malolo. George Ford’s kick-through is collected by Taumateine, but we come back for a penalty against Danny Toala.
15 mins: Farrell’s no-look pass opens a corridor of space for Tuilagi, who is very much up for this. He charges 20 metres forward before Taumateine and Paia’aua haul him down, with Steward close by. The ball is reworked to Farrell, who is held up a couple of metres out.
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13 mins: An early knock for Courtney Lawes has replacement George Martin warming up on the sidelines – but Lawes looks OK to continue.
In defence of Sopoaga, he has lost the kicking tee he used since childhood at this tournament. Despite pleas for its return, it has not resurfaced – although his former kicking coach, Alex Davies, sent him a similar replacement.
12 mins: Chessum is penalised for sealing off, handing Samoa the chance to cut the gap back to two points. Lima Sopoaga lines it up – and puts it well wide! They’ve got to take those chances, surely.
10 mins: Owen Farrell lines up the conversion, knowing two points will take him past Jonny Wilkinson as England’s all-time top point scorer. And he misses it! Ah well, plenty of time.
TRY! England 5-0 Samoa (Chessum 9')
From a standing start in midfield, Farrell works the ball left and Samoa’s defence loses its shape, Steward able to draw players forward and find Tuilagi. He offloads to big Ollie Chessum, who thunders down the left flank to score!
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7 mins: England get a warning from the referee for their early transgressions. For Samoa, Nigel Ah-Wong finds space but is hauled down before he can offload. England can break, and it’s hooker Jamie George with a kick-and-run! We love to see it …
5 mins: A pair of England lineouts, the second of which is uncontested as Samoa opt to meet their opponents on the ground. It pays off as the England maul is held up, Tom Curry called offside. Still, today is going better for him than the Argentina game.
3 mins: Samoa have the put-in at a scrum – their pack has a 35kg edge on England’s – but England hold up better here, Ben Earl offering a trademark celebration as Samoan legs give way.
1 mins: Tuilagi gets on the ball early, but Samoa hold firm and win it back. Jonathan Taumateine, he of the Ric Flair peroxide mullet, starts an enterprising attack before Danny Toala’s diagonal kick is skewed into touch.
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Here we go
The referee, Andrew Brace, gets us started.
England fans sing “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” as the Samoa players gather in a circle before the Siva Tau. A few whistles from the crowd, then things settle down for Samoa’s pre-game ritual.
What a moment for Manu Tuilagi, too – the England centre grew up in Samoa, and his brothers wore the blue shirt internationally. This is his first ever game against the country of his birth.
The teams are out for the anthems in Lille. Plenty of Samoa flags waving in the stands, but an even larger England contingent have hopped on the Eurostar to see their team in action.
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Here’s our match report from Wales’ earlier win over Georgia:
Steve Borthwick talks to ITV: “It’s been a great couple of weeks – we had a really well-deserved break for a few days, then ripped into training. It’s been tough and physical, because we expect this Test match to be tough and physical.
On Ford and Farrell, he says: “It’s great to have players of such quality in this squad; they’ve got a great winning rate as a combination, I’m looking forward to seeing what they can do today.” On Tom Curry’s return, he says the England back row now has “speed, power and physicality – and that’s what we’ll need against Samoa.”
I mentioned earlier that Samoa have a very slim chance of getting to the quarter-finals. Here’s what they need to happen:
Argentina and Japan draw in Sunday’s game
Neither team earns a bonus point in the draw
Samoa beat England by at least 29 points
Samoa also pick up a try bonus point
If all that were to happen, Samoa would sneak into second place on points difference. They need a few snookers, it’s fair to say.
Pool C result: Wales 43-19 Georgia
Wales have sealed top spot in Pool C and a quarter-final against either Argentina or Japan (in all likelihood), but they didn’t have it all their own way as Georgia roared back in the second half, getting back to 24-19 behind before Louis Rees-Zammit helped Wales over the line.
Oh, and there was also a massive fight which saw two players yellow carded. Luke McLaughlin was watching …
The teams
England Freddie Steward, Joe Marchant, Manu Tuilagi, Owen Farrell (c), Jonny May, George Ford, Alex Mitchell; Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Dan Cole, Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum, Courtney Lawes, Tom Curry, Ben Earl.
Replacements: Theo Dan, Joe Marler, Kyle Sinckler, George Martin, Billy Vunipola, Danny Care, Marcus Smith, Ollie Lawrence.
Samoa Duncan Paia’aua, Nigel Ah-Wong, Tumua Manu, Danny Toala, Neria Fomai, Lima Sopoaga, Jonathan Taumateine; Jordan Lay, Sama Malolo, Michael Alaalatoa (c), Sam Slade, Brian Alainu’u’ese, Theo McFarland, Fritz Lee, Steven Luatua.
Replacements: Seilala Lam, James Lay, Paul Alo-Emile, Sootala Fa’aso’o, Alamanda Motuga, Melani Matavao, Christian Leali’ifano, Miracle Faiilagi.
Preamble
Before this World Cup began, if you had told the average England fan their team’s Pool D fate would be sealed before the final match, they would probably have feared the worst. Instead, they have defied gloomy predictions to win their first three games, and can already look forward to the quarter-finals with top spot assured.
With that in mind, Steve Borthwick is sending out a side close to his best XV – 13 of the 15 players who started against Argentina will line up in Lille today. Owen Farrell and George Ford both start as the head coach prepares a dress rehearsal for the knockout stages, where England are likely to face Fiji.
Samoa can technically still qualify for the last eight, but need an extraordinary series of events to go their way. Realistically, their aim is a top-three finish and an automatic spot in 2027 after a disappointing campaign. Beyond pride and permutations, here is also a chance to earn a historic first-ever win over England.
