There was only one thing on the agenda in York on Saturday afternoon: points. The reality was always going to be that the United States would pick up a first win of the tournament and inflict a third straight defeat on Samoa. That was never really up for debate.
But it was always going to be about how many points the Eagles could rack up to pile the pressure on Australia later in the day. Nobody really knew what would be enough. Some were saying 60, some were saying 70; others felt they might need as many as 80 to stand a chance.
A 135-point swing across two games is not insignificant, especially when the onus was on a USA team who are traditionally not heavy scorers: this was the biggest score they have racked up since defeating Kazakhstan in 2014. You can not argue they did not do their best to hold up their end of the bargain.
But it just was not enough as England beat Australia 47-7. It was not this game, and this scoreline, that cost them. It was their 69-7 loss to England on the opening night that proved to be significant in denying them a place in the quarter-finals – but they certainly ended their group stage campaign in some style.
Not at any stage did they relent in their pursuit to rack up as many points as possible against a Samoa side who were well supported. That was evident right up to the very last moments, when the Eagles hurried to restart the game after Olivia Ortiz’s try two minutes from time, their 10th of the contest.
“They did a great job, but when we got the opportunity to score I was delighted with how we did,” said the USA coach, Sione Fukofuka, said. “We rise and fall as a team.”
The tone was set within six minutes by the game’s undisputed star, flanker Freda Tafuna. The first of her four tries was a wonderful solo finish that caught the Samoa defence off-guard and by half-time the States had already secured the bonus point that was the bare minimum they needed.
Two tries from Hope Rogers continued their dominance after Tafuna’s early try before Cassidy Bargell and Erica Coulibaly followed suit. Leading 27-0 at the break, the platform had been laid and they did not let up after half-time.
USA Ibarra; Henrich (Kelter 48), Maher, Cantorna, Coulibaly; Hawkins (Bitter 48), Bargell (Ortiz 61); Rogers (Learned 61), Treder (Stathopoulos 54), Sagapolu (Leatherman 61), Taufoou (Brody 67), Jarrell, Tafuna, Zackary, Johnson (Perris-Redding 54).
Tries Tafuna 4, Rogers 2, Bargell, Coulibaly, Jarrell, Ortiz. Conversions Cantorna 5.
Samoa Ah-Cheung; Aumua (Makisi 53), Pouri-Lane, Vatau, Falaniko; Wright-Akeli, Afuie (Tugaga 61); Aiolupotea (Mamea 41), Filimaua (Nonutunu 41), Iosefo (Samuelu 41), Sio (Taylor 41), Madisen-Jade, Atonio (Foaese 49), Pauaraisa, Fanen-Lolo (48).
Referee N Ganley (New Zealand).
Erica Jarrell got them going within seconds of the restart before Tafuna picked up her second. Two more for the flanker followed either side of the hour mark and at that stage it was 53-0 and a huge score looked possible.
But the scoring was stunted in the final quarter after Kristin Bitter was sent to the sin-bin and it looked like Samoa would produce the biggest cheer of the afternoon with their first try. However, while USA held firm to deny them, there was no shortage of spirit from Samoa. “It’s a learning curve for our players,” Ramsey Tomokino, their coach, said. “We’ve enjoyed our time here.”
There was time for one more USA try when Ortiz forced her way over the line to make it 60-0, but you always had the suspicion it would not quite be enough. So that proved, but both teams exit with their heads held high.
