Samoa overcome Eagles in battle for wooden spoon

SAMOA ended their disappointing World Cup campaign on a high note as three first-half tries did for the United States in an entertaining Pool A dead-rubber in rainy St Etienne.

Lome Fa’atau, Alesana Tuilagi and Kane Thompson grounded before the break as the Polynesians avoided the ignominy of going through the tournament winless, following earlier defeats to South Africa, Tonga and England.

That fate could still befall the US, who fought back gamely from a 22-3 interval deficit to grab second-half tries through Takudzwa Ngwenya and Louis Stanfill with Mike Hercus kicking 11 points.