RLWC 2022 | Pool A – Samoa 62 France 4 Match Centre

Rugby League World Cup is in the final week of the group stage with Pool A action featuring the fascinating clash of Samoa v France, possibly the most interesting of all the week Three clashes.

Our Group A Samoa v France Match Centre has a preview, stats, team lists before the game and a summary of the match afterwards. More than you could ever need or want.

If you want more information on all the squads – follow this link here.

SAMOA v FRANCE Summary

Samoa have emphatically taken the second knockout spot from Group A with their best performance of the tournament so far by thrashing their knockout finals rival 62-4.

It sets up a mouth watering quarter final clash with Tongs, who put on 90+ points against Cook Islands last night as well.

Full match summary to come.

SAMOA v FRANCE Final Score

SAMOA 62
Tries: Tim Lafai 3′ Brian To’o 16′ Taylan May 20′ Taylan May 33′ Taylan May 39′ Taylan May 43′ Brian To’o 46′ Anthony Milford 62′ Tim Lafai 65′ Chanel Harris-Tavita 68′ Anthony Milford 73′
Goals: Stephen Crichton 9/11

FRANCE 4
Tries: Fouad Yaha 52

SAMOA v FRANCE Match Stats

SAMOA v FRANCE Teams

SAMOA

1 Joseph Suaali’i
2 Taylan May
4 Stephen Crichton
25 Tim Lafai
5 Brian To’o
6 Jarome Luai
7 Anthony Milford

10Junior Paulo
9 Danny Levi
15 Royce Hunt
11 Ligi Sao
12 Jaydn Su’a
23 Oregon Kaufusi

8 Josh Papali’i
16 Spencer Leniu
17 Martin Taupau
20 Chanel Harris-Tavita

FRANCE

6 Arthur Mourgue
2 Arthur Romano
3 Samisoni Langi
4 Matthieu Laguerre
5 Fouad Yaha
23 Cesar Rouge
7 Tony Gigot

8 Jordan Dezaria
9 Alrix Da Costa
16 Gadwin Springer
11 Benjamin Jullien
12 Paul Seguier
13 Benjamin Garcia

14 Eloi Pelissier
15 Justin Sangare
17 Mickaël Goudemand
21 Maxime Puech

SAMOA v FRANCE Preview

Table: W/D/L/F/A/FA/Pts

This is a clash we are genuinely looking forward to, with two team attacking the Rugby League World Cup is different ways.

Samoa came in with big wraps and dark horse title-winning threats, and were bloody awful against England, and then turned on the brilliance against a decent Greece effort last time out. France meanwhile have gone under the radar. There were excellent against Greece and help their own against England in a gallant (and gallic) defeat. Will it be the hot or cold Samoa that turn up, or steady as she goes France that will triumph (and Triomphe).

There’s no denying that the Penrith connection really turned it on for Samoa against Greece, with Luai in particular making up for a sub-standard first game. Perhaps there was a physical hangover from the Grand Final, who knows. That’s why picking a winner in this game is so hard.

We are tempted to go with France, with the team more of a unit, and used to the European conditions, but then you look at all the NRL talent and wonder why you could be considering any other result.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Jarome Luai is the obvious choice, being as much the polariser on the the field at the rugby league world cup as he is in the News Ltd rugby league writing factories around the world.

But at this stage we feel the need to point out just how quiet Joseph Sua’ali’i has been. The young fullback is a genuine superstar of the future, but he has been relatively quiet at the back for Samoa so far for his general hype. Perhaps with the knockout finals qualification on the line it will be his turn to shine.

For France we’re looking at the back row trio of Benjamin Jullien, Benjamin Garcia and Mickaël Goudemand, all of whom have been excellent for France. If Samoa have a slight weakness in their squad, it is the back rowers, so if France can get on top in this area it could cover other areas where Samoa are much stronger.

PREDICTION

Samoa 30 France 28

Samoa v France RLWC2021 Stats

Average per game stats from games played so far.

Samoa v France Pre Match Stats