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England v Samoa 2017 - Back to Winning ways


By K
November 30 2017

England finished their Autumn Internationals with Win - Wins all round,  finishing off with a 48-14 victory over Samoa at Twickenham.

England led 22-7 at half time with scores from Mike Brown, a first international try for Alex Lozowski, and Charlie Ewels while George Ford contributed seven points from the boot. In return Samoa crossed through Piula Faasalele which Tim Nanai-Williams converted.

Second-half converted tries for Elliot Daly and Henry Slade stretched the lead to 36-7, before Chris Vui's score reduced the deficit. Late tries from Daly and Semesa Rokoduguni took England past 40 points in what was the final action of the match.

England crossed after just a couple of minutes, after multiple phases Maro Itoje’s break on the left wing was finished off by Brown. A second try came via Lozowski after Ford’s up and under was fumbled by Samoa and between Daly and Jamie George they released the England centre for a free run to the line.

Samoa to their credit fired straight back with Faasalele crashing over for a converted try. Ford then sent over a penalty to take the score to 15-7 and Ewels barged over for a third England try and despite late opportunities to score their advantage stayed at 15 points.

After a scrappy opening 20 minutes of the second half England eventually crossed for try number four with Daly going over in the corner as a result of direct play and a series of phases breaking Samoan resistance.

Samoa lost Piula Faasalele to the bin for infringing at a ruck and after kicking to the corner England secured the throw and Slade seared through midfield to score but again the visitors came roaring back with Vui diving over in the corner for a sensational try.

That impressive score was matched by Daly who scorched through the centre of Samoa's defence to dot down under the posts having stepped in from his left wing before blitzing to the try line.

  

Bath wing Rokoduguni continued his impressive scoring record when going over in the corner in the final action of the match.   BUT Danny Care has been my stand out man this Autumn series , rather like vintage wine he seems to get better.

 

England:15 Mike Brown (Harlequins 63 caps), 14 Jonny May (Leicester Tigers 28 caps), 13 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs 9 caps), 12 Alex Lozowski (Saracens 3 caps), 11 Elliot Daly (Wasps 15 caps), 10 George Ford (Leicester Tigers 39 caps) co-captain, 9 Danny Care (Harlequins 75 caps); 1 Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers 4 caps), 2 Jamie George (Saracens 19 caps), 3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers 76 caps), 4 Joe Launchbury (Wasps 46 caps), 5 Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby 5 caps), 6 Maro Itoje (Saracens 13 caps), 7 Chris Robshaw (Harlequins 58 caps) co-captain, 8 Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs 2 caps).

Replacements 16 Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints 88 caps), 17 Joe Marler (Harlequins 52 caps), 18 Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs 4 caps), 19 Nick Isiekwe (Saracens 1 cap), 20 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints 60 caps), 21 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers 72 caps), 22 Piers Francis (Northampton Saints 2 caps), 23 Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath Rugby 3 caps).

Samoa: 15 Ahsee Tuala, 14 Paul Perez, 13 Kieron Fonotia, 12 Alapati Leiua, 11 David Lemi, 10 Tim Nanai-Williams, 9 Dwayne Polataivao; 1 Jordan Lay, 2 Motu Matu'u, 3 Donald Brighouse, 4 Josh Tyrell, 5 Chris Vui (Captain), 6 Piula Faasalele, 7 TJ Ioane, 8 Jack Lam.

Replacements 16 Manu Leiataua, 17 James Lay, 18 Hisa Sasagi, 19 Faatiga Lemalu, 20 Ofisa Treviranus, 21 Melani Matavao, 22 Rey Lee-Lo, 23 JJ Taulagi.   

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