Famous Fixtures: England v Samoa
Ahead of England's pool game against Samoa we look back at famous fixtures between the sides at the Rugby World Cup.
2007: ENGLAND 44 - 22 SAMOA
The last meeting at a World Cup between England and Samoa came in 2007. Jonny Wilkinson kicked 24 points, landing himself in the history books as the third player in international rugby to surpass 1,000 points. The achievement moved him into second place in the list of the World Cup’s all-time leading points-scorers with 206.
Brian Ashton’s team made a brisk start through captain Martin Corry as England recycled the ball for him after charging down a Samoan kick. Corry touched down in the corner with two minutes on the board. Wilkinson converted the try and followed up with a drop-goal leading to Samoa’s Loki Crichton to respond through two penalty kicks helping Samoa to close the gap.
England were controlling the game and Samoa showed promising spells, however, Wilkinson kept adding up the score with an additional two penalties. Play from Wilkinson kept the momentum rolling as the ball came out to him on the left dinking the ball through the Samoan defence leaving the ball on a perfect bounce for Paul Sackey to touch down out wide.
Samoa kept their efforts coming before the end of the half through Crichton as he converted three penalties before the clock ran out.
The early encounters of the second half favoured Samoa as scrum-half Junior Poluleuligaga won a footrace to a loose ball between Mathew Tait diving across the line bringing the score to 26-22.Errors from both teams kept the match alive and Samoa kept stoking the fire but England regained composure as Wilkinson added a drop-goal with 10 minutes to go.
The Samoan resistance faded as another penalty kick marked a strong finish for England as Corry and Sackey each added another try in the final minutes.
2003: ENGLAND 35 - 22 SAMOA
Samoa started the game in strong fashion with a 10 point lead inside five minutes. A series of slick moves from the team allowed them to go the full length and width of the pitch giving opportunity to captain Semo Sititi to score an early try.
England soon responded as a Wilkinson penalty took the team into the Samoan 22. Neil Back rose in the line-out and drove across the line to score. Wilkinson converted bringing the score to 7-10.
A penalty kick brought England back on level terms but the boot of Earl Va’a capitalised on England’s giveaways keeping the lead ticking over.
Samoa led at the break 13-16 but England returned to the field a more organised outfit. The referee awarded a penalty try early in the half after Samoa conceded a five metre scrum which collapsed. Wilkinson converted and England found themselves in the lead.
Samoa kept the pressure on England as Va’a converted a penalty, putting them one point behind England and minutes later another penalty was slotted away, putting Samoa in the lead once more.
At this time points were necessary and Wilkinson dissected the posts with a drop goal edging the team ahead which kick-started the flourish on which to finish. Wilkinson was the creator for the next points as a perfectly executed cross-field kick was claimed by Iain Balshaw on the wing who touched down in the corner.
The momentum gathered and Phil Vickery opened his England account after side-stepping the Samoan defence which opened a gap for him to put the game to rest.
1995: ENGLAND 44 - 22 SAMOA
The first recorded match between the two nations at King’s Park Stadium in Durban was a Pool B fixture which secured England’s spot in the quarter-final against Australia.
Head coach Jack Rowell selected a second XV for the fixture in front of 35,000 fans allowing three players to make their England Test Debut with Richard West getting his first start placed in the second row.
The line-up rewarded captain Will Carling with his 50th cap, however, this milestone was cut short due to an injury being one of many throughout the game. The knocks forced England to play with two hookers and two scrum-halves at one time as the Samoans defended with a tough spirit.
Neil Back opened the scoring for England after the Samoan defence brought down Dewi Morris who released the ball into the hands of Back, who twisted over to score in the corner with 90 seconds on the clock.
Jon Callard added three more on the board through a penalty kick which was swiftly followed by a drop goal from Mike Catt. Rory Underwood scored the second try for England assisted by winger Ian Hunter. The try was converted by Callard who then followed up with a penalty kick to give England a 21-0 lead at half-time.
The start of the second-half allowed Samoa to come within seven points of England as they flew out the blocks, repeating what they had done in their previous two pool games. Centre Tupo Fa'amasino gave Samoa their first points of the evening through a penalty goal which inspired the Samoan attack.
Replacement Fata Sini came on for fly-half Esera Puleitu and this decision allowed Fati the opportunity to zip through the English defence to score Samoa’s first try. Fa'amasino converted and Callard responded with his boot through a penalty kick but Samoa kept the pressure on the English defensive line.
Sini was the man once again as he repeated the process and scored his second. The try was converted and Samoa had closed the gap to 24-17. The scoreline woke England and after a period of sustained pressure on Samoa they were rewarded with a penalty try by the referee.
Fast passing through English hands gave Underwood the opportunity to score his second try of the evening assisted by scrum-halve Morris. Callard converted and followed up with a penalty kick to end the England scoring.
In the final moments of play Samoa full-back Mike Umaga passed through the English defence to dive spectacularly into the corner. England were victorious in Durban bringing an end to Samoa’s campaign with the score 44-22.
