Samoa beats penalty-ridden Chile in Rugby World Cup opener
Samoa's Duncan Paia'aua scores a try during the Rugby World Cup Pool D match between Samoa and Chile at the Stade de Bordeaux in Bordeaux, France, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Themba Hadebe]
BORDEAUX, France (AP) — Samoa started its Rugby World Cup campaign slowly before finally overwhelming Chile 36-10 for a bonus-point win in Bordeaux. After conceding an early try and only leading 19-10 at the interval Samoa pulled away after the break in Nice. Samoa’s tries came from fullback Duncan Paia’aua right on the first-half buzzer. Scrumhalf Jonathan Taumateine, flanker Fritz Lee, and hooker Sama Malolo _ twice _ all crossed in the second half. Chile lead thanks to a sixth-minute try from prop Matias Dittus. Former Australia international Christian Leali’ifano started at flyhalf for Samoa and kicked 16 points. He top-scored for the Wallabies at the 2019 tournament and qualified for Samoa on ancestry grounds.
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Samoa's Jonathan Taumateine, right, and teammate Sama Malolo celebrate after the Rugby World Cup Pool D match between Samoa and Chile at the Stade de Bordeaux in Bordeaux, France, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Themba Hadebe