USA Secure Convincing Win Over Samoa but Quarter-Final Hopes Hang in the Balance
The USA did their part to stay in contention for the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals with a dominant victory over Samoa, but their fate now depends on other results.
The Eagles needed a win in York and an England victory over Australia—without the Wallaroos earning a bonus point—along with a 135-point swing to advance. While they delivered their biggest win in over a decade, they now rely on England defeating Australia by at least 75 points while denying them a bonus point to secure qualification alongside the hosts.
Ten tries—four from forward Freda Tafuna—and five conversions by Gabby Cantorna ensured the USA’s performance was emphatic. Samoa, who had yet to score a try in the tournament, offered little resistance, allowing the Eagles to focus on maximizing their points tally ahead of Australia’s crucial fixture later that evening.
The bonus point, secured within the first half-hour, set the tone. Tafuna’s early solo break opened the scoring, followed by two tries from Hope Rogers. By halftime, Cassidy Bargell and Erica Coulibaly added two more, making it 27-0.
The urgency after the break highlighted the need for a bigger margin. Erica Jarrell struck early, and Tafuna powered through for her second soon after. Two more tries from Tafuna around the hour mark suggested a runaway victory, though a yellow card for Kristin Bitter briefly slowed their momentum, giving Samoa a brief spark.
But the USA finished strongly with Olivia Ortiz’s try and Cantorna’s fifth conversion, pushing the score to 60. Whether it proves enough remains to be seen.
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