Rugby League World Cup has reached the semi finals stage with the England v Samoa clash to finish it all off. It is a replay of the opening game of the Rugby League World Cup where the home side will be looking to repeat the result, if not the score line.
Our England v Samoa Match Centre has a preview, stats, team lists before the game and a summary of the match afterwards with thoughts and stats. More than you could ever need or want.
If you want more information on all the results from the Group Stages and beyond – follow this link here.
England v Samoa Match Summary
Samoa have booked an historic place in the Rugby League World Cup final after a 27-26 win in a thrilling match that needed extra time and an 84th minute field goal to separate the sides.
England started off brightly enough, attacking the Samoan line in the first minute, but it was the Samoan who silenced the London crowd with the first try of the match in the fifth minute. On the back of a set restart, Jarome Luai fired the perfect cut out pass to Tim Lafai who split the English defence to score. A 4-0 lead to Samoa and certainly a better start than their first match of the tournament.
That good start for Samoa was stalled in the 12th minute when Junior Paulo was sin binned for a lifting tackle on Tom Burgess. It wasn’t good, but not the worst and a sin bin seemed appropriate. Before Junior Paulo returned Samoa lost Fa’amanu Brown and Oregon Kaufusi to a HIA the two suffered a head clash attempting a tackle. Brown was not to return which meant Chanel Harris-Tavita would play hooker for most of the match.
But where England have been clinical and sharp in attack throughout the World Cup, they looked to push a little too hard early, especially with the player advantage. With three minutes of the sin bin remaining England eventually did cross the line, but the Kallum Watkins try was ruled out by the Video Referee for a knock on. Herbie Farnworth lost a great chance two minutes later and the score remained 4-0 to Samoa despite going a player down.
Despite being unable to score with a player advantage, England did it minutes after Paulo returned. The try was set up with a George Williams line break deep inside Samoa territory, complete with dummy and offload to a supporting Elliott Whitehead who continued his scoring ways. The easy conversion saw England take the lead for the first time in the match.
It didn’t last long as five minutes later Samoa were in for their second try. After a good set got them from 20 metres to withing 10 metres of the England line, Ligi Sao picked the ball up from dummy half, an the short blind side and weaved his way through some ordinary attempts to tackle from England. Stephen Crichton converted for a 10-6 lead for Samoa.
On the balance of the first half England had more opportunities and were the more dominant side, but Samoa took their chances well and were troubling England with their offloads.
HALF TIME – ENGLAND 6 SAMOA 10
Samoa should have scored early in the second half but blew a 4 on 1 overlap. England made them pay a few minutes later when a spilled kick in the Samoan in goal fell the way of John Bateman who scored under the posts. Tommy Makinson added the points and the lead had changed again with the score now England 12 Samoa 10.
The lead didn’t last long as Samoa turned on some magic to score. Stephen Crichton was the one to eventually score, but it was a product of some real ad-lib football from Jarome Luai and a brilliant offload from Junior Paulo as he was falling to the ground, and England eventually ran out of cover when Crichton crossed. Crichton converted for a 16-12 lead.
Samoa were well on top at this stage and England looked a little rattled, no more evident than Dom Young dropping a simple bomb under little pressure. Not long after Samoa punished them for the mistake as Tim Lafai scored his second try of the match. It was simple enough as Samoa went down the blind side, and like Lafai’s first try, Luai threw the final pass. Crichton missed the sideline conversion and the score remain 20-12.
To show there was plenty of feeling in the game, a scuffle broke out as the play was to restart after England kicked the ball dead. It would be unfair to target Jarome Luai for no reason, but he was the instigator of the fracas with Sam Tomkins giving the England fullback a bit of lip which then escalated.
Not long after England had a golden opportunity to decrease the margin with three sets in a row on the Samoan line and eventually they scored, and it was a determined effort from Herbie Farnworth close to the line. The England centre broke through at least four tackles and dragged another two over the line. Tommy Makinson’s conversion made it 20-18 with 15 minutes to go.
England received a fortunate penalty on their next set, with a push on Sam Tomkins by Junior Paulo after Tomkins has hoisted a bomb deemed dangerous contact. It probably would not have been checked in the NRL, but regardless it gave England a chance to even up the score which Tommy Makinson did to the delight of the crowd. 20-20 was the score with 12 minutes to go.
Sensation with seven minutes to go as intercept expert Stephen Crichton repeated his 2021 NRL Grand Final heroics with a steal of the Victor Radley pass on the halfway line. Once in the clear no one could stop the Samoa centre. Crichton converted his own kick and Samoa were back in front 26-20.
But England had some sensation left in them with a long range try of their own. George Williams dummied and broke through the Samoan defence on his own 20 metre line, and after a 30 metre run drew the fullback and set Herbie Farnworth on his way from the remaining metres for his second try. Tommy Makinson made the difficult conversion for a 26-26 scoreline with one minute of regular time to go.
And England had a half chance to steal the game in the closing seconds, but fell short. Extra time was now required.
An early error from England in attack in golden point gave Samoa a golden chance to steal the game, but the Anthony Milford field goal attempt was charged down.
But England gave them another chance not long after with a forward pass called on them, and this time it was Stephen Crichton who nailed it from 30 metres out to give the Samoans a historic victory.
For Samoa it is a huge moment for them making a final, and fully justifies the NRL players choosing heritage over Australia, somewhat controversially for some. Joseph Suaali’i was immense at the back, and showed why he has carried so much hype in his short senior career so far. Their outside backs were also fantastic and caused the English problems all match. Jarome Luai was also at his best. But what a way to take revenge for the 60-6 loss in the first game of the season.
England had enough opportunities to win this game, but were unable to take advantage and made more errors than we have seen all World Cup.
England v Samoa Score
ENGLAND 26
Tries: Elliott Whitehead 24′ John Bateman 44′ Herbie Farnworth 63′ Herbie Farnworth 77′
Goals: Tommy Makinson 5/5
SAMOA 27
Tries: Tim Lafai 5′ Ligi Sao 30′ Stephen Crichton 48′ Tim Lafai 57′ Stephen Crichton 73′
Goals: Stephen Crichton 3/5
Field Goals: Stephen Crichton 84′
England v Samoa Match Stats
England v Samoa Teams
ENGLAND
1 Sam Tomkins
2 Tommy Makinson
3 Kallum Watkins
4 Herbie Farnworth
14 Dominic Young
6 Jack Welsby
7 George Williams
8 Thomas Burgess
9 Michael McIlorum
18 Chris Hill
11 Elliott Whitehead
12 John Bateman
13 Victor Radley
10 Luke Thompson
15 Morgan Knowles
17 Mike Cooper
20 Mike McMeeken
SAMOA
1 Joseph Suaali’i
2 Taylan May
4 Stephen Crichton
25 Tim Lafai
5 Brian To’o
6 Jarome Luai
7 Anthony Milford
10 Junior Paulo
21 Fa’amanu Brown
15 Royce Hunt
11 Ligi Sao
12 Jaydn Su’a
23 Oregon Kaufusi
8 Josh Papali’i
16 Spencer Leniu
20 Chanel Harris-Tavita
22 Kelma Tuilagi
England v Samoa Preview
Hard to believe it’s only weeks ago when England opened the tournament by thrashing one of the dark horses to win the competition in Samoa. But a lot has happened since that famous 60-6 win.
Samoa have found their feet, and winning ways, and deserved their quarter final win over Tonga last weekend to make this semi final. But are they playing good enough to beat the form team of the tournament.
That may be a big call on England, but in our opinion they have been the most outstanding, and complete team of the Rugby League World Cup so far.
The way they dominated, and effectively strangled PNG out of the game in the first half of their quarter finals clash was immense. England had the ball for all but one tackle for nearly 20 minutes at one stage. No other team – Australia or New Zealand – would have beaten England last weekend. They did drop off a little in the second half against PNG, but who could blame them after that first half, and with an eye on this weekend.
England have the advantage of most of their side being used to the UK conditions, something that definitely looked like an advantage in their first game v Samoa. Samoa had some players who weren’t hadn’t had much of a break from the NRL Grand Final, namely Jarome Luai who received the lion’s share of abuse after the first loss. He has kicked on since, leading Samoa to three straight wins, and is now equal second for try assists.
Talking of UK conditions, the game will be played in London, a rarity for the northern-based game to head to the capital, and for such a big game with England involved. One wonders if the game being played at Premier League club Arsenal’s home ground will attract the capacity 60 thousand fans, if they get close that is a massive advantage for the home side.
So the big question is can Samoa get over their first game humiliation. We say they can, but this England team give away nothing and have been outstanding, so even if Samoa fire they still might be on the losing side.
Time for some stats to finish it all off.
England have played tier two Pacific nations 14 times for 14 wins. They averaged 37 points for and 13 against before the 60-6 win last time out. England have never lost a World Cup game in England against a side not from Australia or New Zealand. Samoa are yet to beat a tier one side in 11 attempts, averaging over 40 points conceded.
England top the tournament for points scored so far (two ahead of Australia) with 242, and have the second best defence behind Australia with 34 in total. Samoa have only conceded 26 points in their three subsequent games to the opening England loss.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
George Williams has been super for England and he currently leads the tournament for try assists (8) and scored three tries himself.
Tom Burgess was one of our players of the match v PNG, with his charges up the middle of the rock-like Kumuls defence setting up a massive platform for the backs to do their work. The big man has also scored four tries in four matches. his battle with Josh Papali’i in the middle should be immense, and one could argue, a key battle.
Topping the stats at the back for Samoa are Joseph Suaali’i and Brian To’o. Both provide plenty of excitement, with Brian To’o a handful with most hit ups and Suaali’i has grown into the tournament at fullback, although lucky to get away with his leading knee from the last game v Tonga. What a problem for the Roosters to have three great number ones that their after seeing some of the best of Suaali’i so far.
But ultimately it will boil down to Jarome Luai running the show an whether he turns up like he did for the first game or he finds his inner Penrith.
PREDICTION
England 38 Samoa 14
England v Samoa RLWC2021 Stats So Far
AVERAGE TEAM STATS PER GAME
AVERAGE PLAYER STATS PER GAME
