ENGLAND maintained their 100 per cent record at the Rugby World Cup after a stunning comeback win over Samoa.
Danny Care crossed the line in the 73rd minute to deny superb Samoa a famous victory.
The Red Rose had booked their quarter-final spot courtesy of Japan's 28-22 win against the Samoans last Thursday.
- Result: England 18 Samoa 17
- England XV: Steward, Marchant, Tuilagi, Farrell (c), May, Ford, Mitchell, Earl, Curry, Lawes, Chessum, Itoje, Cole, George, Genge
- Samoa XV: Paia'aua, Ah-Wong, Manu, Toala, Fomai, Sopoaga, Taumateine, Luatua, Lee, McFarland, Alainu'u'ese, Slade, Alaalatoa (c), Malolo, Lay
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- By Kieran Davies
Fine margins pay dividends for English
During the first half, Samoa dominated England and seemed capable of scoring whenever they come forward.
Two disallowed Samoa tries prevented the Pacific Islanders from being even further ahead at half-time.
They came so close to an upset this evening but fell just short.
- By Kieran Davies
Former head coach voices concerns
Sir Clive Woodward pointed out that he does not feel Owen Farrell and George Ford can play in the same team.
He went on to say that from this point forwards in the tournament, 'England must stop playing people out of position.'
Woodward knows what is required to win such a tournament as this and feels they will have given Fiji hope of a monumental win next weekend.
- By Kieran Davies
Records there to be broken
Owen Farrell officially become England's highest-ever points scorer in the game against Samoa today.
He surpassed Jonny Wilkinson's tally of 1,179 points.
Farrell also became the first player at the 2023 Rugby World Cup to be 'timed out' in taking a penalty also.
Credit: Getty
- By Kieran Davies
England continue 100% World Cup start
Steve Borthwick's England side are enjoying having won all four matches they played in Pool D.
They finish top of the group and will march on to the quarter-finals in confident mood.
England will face either Fiji or Australia next Sunday in their next game.
Credit: Getty - By Kieran Davies
Coach needs to find polished performance
When it comes to playing their quarter final next weekend, Steve Borthwick has a lot of work to do.
Fiji, who they are likely to face, have already beaten England in the lead up to the tournament.
Unless they can take it up a notch or two, the Pacific Islanders will fancy their chances of pulling off another shock defeat.
- By Kieran Davies
FT: England 18-17 Samoa
Samoa will feel that they should have won that game by 10 or 15 points based on their performance.
England have found a way to win a game that they did not really deserve.
The yellow card, taking Samoa down to fourteen men proved costly for the Pacific Islanders.
- By Kieran Davies
FT: England 18-17 Samoa
It was a scrappy England performance but they ground out the win.
Samoa so unlucky not to get their first ever win against England.
That was a hard fought game and a joy to watch for the neutral.
- By Kieran Davies
England 18-17 Samoa
79. Samoa were so close to breaking away for a try then.
It was a try-saving tackle from Danny Care.
He may well have won them the game with that challenge.
Credit: Getty - By Kieran Davies
England 18-17 Samoa
77. Samoa drive forward looking to get back into this game.
As they work through the phases, they drive England back to their own ten metre line.
England manage to turn over the ball and clear.
- By Kieran Davies
England 18-17 Samoa
75. As the Samoan players are preoccupied, Care ghosts in to go over the line.
Steve Borthwick's side really needed that score.
Owen Farrell puts the conversion over the posts to give his side a slender lead.
- By Kieran Davies
Try – Danny Care (England)
- By Kieran Davies
England 11-17 Samoa
73. The referee has a word with the Samoan skipper.
He is not happy that they have ruined the last two scrums.
England have one more chance to make this pressure count.
- By Kieran Davies
England 11-17 Samoa
71. We are into the final stages of this game.
Samoa have worked so hard to hold onto their lead.
You wonder whether this is one step too far with them having a man less due to the yellow card.
Credit: Getty - By Kieran Davies
England 11-17 Samoa
69. England have a five metre scrum.
This is one of the most difficult things to defend in rugby.
Samoa will need all their strength to keep Borthwick's side out.
- By Kieran Davies
England 11-17 Samoa
67. England are piling on the pressure.
Samoa managed to keep them out, even though they are inches away from the try line.
As England waste the chance, it is brought back for an England penalty.
- By Kieran Davies
Yellow card – Tumua Manu (Samoa)
- By Kieran Davies
England 11-17 Samoa
65. Owen Farrell was lining up what seemed like a routine kick.
As he sent the ball through the posts, it is apparent the penalty clock had run out before he struck it.
What a wasted opportunity for England as the scores stay the same.
- By Kieran Davies
Penalty clock runs out
- By Kieran Davies
England 11-17 Samoa
63. The physical, open game of Samoa has caused England problems.
Fiji would offer the same sort of options but maybe an even more physical game.
None of that matters just yet, Steve Borthwick's side need to stamp their authority on the game at hand.
Credit: PA - By Kieran Davies
England 11-17 Samoa
61. Samoa win the ball from an England lineout once again.
Irrelevant to the final outcome here, there are a lot of worrying things for Borthwick to concern himself with.
Fiji will love what they are seeing in this game.
- By Kieran Davies
England 11-17 Samoa
59. Samoa ring the changes as they bring some big units on.
They will be keen to immediately reply to the England points.
Plenty of time left in this game, it is finely poised and still anybody's game.
- By Kieran Davies
Penalty – Owen Farrell (England)
- By Kieran Davies
England 8-17 Samoa
57. Joe Marchant goes over the line for England but the TMO review shows that the ball went forward in the build up.
The try is disallowed but England are awarded a penalty for a tackle off the ball.
Pressure still on the Pacific Islanders.
- By Kieran Davies
England 8-17 Samoa
55. The check is over and it is decided that it was not a try.
England have the penalty though and the chance to go again.
Mitchell tries to break through but England lose the ball as a penalty is awarded to Samoa.
Credit: Reuters - By Kieran Davies
TMO review ongoing
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