Samoa tops Pool C but must face the big guns

Samoa 51 Georgia 29

But with both the top two sides in the group yet to come, the Samoans are almost certainly in a false position after comfortable wins over minnows Uruguay and Georgia.

But it does set them up for two cracks at what would be a major upset as they bid to reach the quarter-finals for the third time.

For Georgia it was a clear demonstration of the gap that separates them from the second division of world rugby of which Samoa is a part.

Their rugged forwards more than held their own, but their backs were mostly chasing shadows as soon as the Samoans backs got into their stride with some space to work in.

Georgia took the lead after just four minutes through a Pavle Jimsheladze penalty.

But they stayed ahead for just seven minutes before Samoa won a line-out just inside the Georgian half and quickly worked the ball along the backs before releasing winger Sailosi Tagicakibau. He burst through the tackle of full-back Badri Khekhelashvili for a try that Earl Va’a converted for 7-3 to Samoa.

Georgia swarmed to the other end and put pressure on the Samoan line but they lacked the guile to go over and had to settle for another Jimsheladze penalty.

Samoa were rocked by the uncompromising play of the Georgian forwards, but the Islanders distanced themselves after a sustained period of open play pressure when Va’a dummied and cut through the Georgian defence for a try which he also converted.

A penalty after 25 minutes from Va’a and a try from Steven So’oialo seven minutes later and Samoa were on their way reaching the break with a 24-9 lead.

The Samoans struggled to add to their score apart from another Va’a penalty early in the second half, but finally ensured the bonus point rewarding a fourth try through a tremendous effort from skipper Semo Sititi.

Va’a once again converted.

Tries followed from Dominic Feaunati and Brian Lima.

GEORGIA: B Khekhelashvili; M Urjukashvili, T Zibzibadze, I Giorgadze, V Katsadze; P Jimsheladze, I Abuseridze; I Zedginidze, G Yachvili, G Labadze; I Nadiradze, Z Mtchedlishvili; S Nikolaenko, A Guiorgadze, G Shvelidze. Replacements: D Dadunashvili, A Margvelashvili, V Didebulidze, D Bolgashvili, M Kvirikashvili, I Machkhaneli, B Khamashuridze.

SAMOA: T Vili; R Fanuatanu, T Fanolua, B Lima, S Tagicakibau; E Va’a, S So'oialo; S Sititi (Capt), M Fa'asavalu, P Poulos; L Lafaiali’i, O Palepoi; J Tomuli, J Meredith, K Lealamanua. Replacements: M Schwalger, S Lemalu, K Viliamu, S Vaili, D Tyrell, D Rasmussen, D Feaunati.

Referee: Alain Rolland (Irl)