USA Selects Seeing Red As Samoa A Takes Advantage

USA Selects Seeing Red As Samoa A Takes Advantage

Recap of USA Selects v Samoa A in the Americas Pacific Challenge

Oct 8, 2017 by Alex Goff
USA Selects Seeing Red As Samoa A Takes Advantage

Samoa A defeated the USA Selects 48-26 at the Americas Pacific Challenge in Montevideo, Uruguay, on Saturday, but the final score didn't tell the whole story.

The Americans actually played right with the Samoan team, and the score was 17-14 at halftime. However, a very unfortunate red card against USA flanker Hanco Germishuys basically secured the game for Samoa A.

The USA had some good passages early but committed too many turnovers, and the Selects saw promising moves die on the vine.

The teams were deadlocked 0-0 into midway through the first half before Samoa A got a penalty goal. Right from the restart, a nice high ball was caught by Joey Leilua, who raced in virtually untouched. Suddenly it was 10-0.

Moments later, scrumhalf Saumalie Tuiletufuga faked out just about everyone with a dummy and then passed off to Elisapeta Alofipo for the try and a 17-0 lead.

The Selects stormed back, working a hard-running attack and showing an ability to score in the red zone that the USA team has not shown consistently in recent years. Hard yards from No. 8 Jackson Kaka and center Bryce Campbell got the Americans close, and then a nice flat pass from Ruben de Haas to Tim Maupin put Maupin over.

Just before halftime, the Selects were back attacking the Samoa tryline. This time they used the front rowers, and after surged by Angus MacLellan and Alex Maughan, captain and hooker Peter Malcolm worked his way over.

Ben Cima converted both and it was 17-14.

Samoa scored a quick try in the second half, but the USA was coming back and had earned a turnover when the referee called the play back for an infraction seen by his assistant ref. The call was a punch to the face by Germishuys. Replays appeared to show the USA flanker being pinned to the ground off the ball by two Samoans and Germishuys pushing a Samoan player away.

A red card in that case certainly was harsh, and it hurt the USA badly. Within 10 minutes, the Selects were down another 19 points, and with 20 minutes to go the margin was 48-14.

But the USA team regrouped and, with the addition of a couple of subs, started to put some phases together. Some slick ball-handling from Campbell and Zach Pangelinan put Mitch Wilson away for a try, and then a little power rugby set up Campbell for a score.

But Samoa was too strong in tight and often got yards after the first hit. With one less defender to handle the bulldozers, the USA Selects were in trouble.


Samoa A: 48

Tries: Tuiletufuga, Tino, Tapu, Leilua, Viliamu, Tavita Fonoti, Alofipo

Convs: Fruean 5

Pens: Fruean

USA Selects: 26

Tries: Maupin, Malcolm, Wilson, Campbell

Convs: Cima 2, Eloff


Argentina XV and Uruguay A were also winners Saturday. Full standings here.