30 Monday, September 21, 2015 SPORTS

SAMOA Brighton BEAT UNITED STATES Samoan went offside. Ireland- amoa captain Ofisa born fly-half AJ MacGinty Treviranus led from the converted it for 11-3. Sfront as the Pacific islanders MacGinty, who sprang from opened their World Cup the same alma mater as iconic campaign with a 25-16 win Irish centre Brian O’Driscoll over United States in Pool B Blackrock College, showed he yesterday. is not just there for kicking as Treviranus scored a battling his vision created a superb try try and Tusi Pusi kicked four after the US won a Samoan penalties as Samoa stayed lineout. comfortably ahead of the He took the ball just outside Americans throughout the his 22 and burst through game in Brighton. the Samoan defence before “Our discipline was excellent offloading to Seamus Kelly, today and the boys were who cut inside and found brilliant,” said the captain captain Chrius Wyles who went after both teams knelt and said over for the try -- MacGinty prayers together following the sent his conversion wide. final whistle. The Americans, though, Predicted big hits quickly again donated points materialised after the start to the Samoans with an with American centre infringement and Pisi added Thretton Palamo leaving the three points for a half- opposite number Rey Lee-Lo time 14-8 lead. shaken on the turf in less than The Pacific islanders a minute. Lee-Lo was sent for extended their lead early in the a head assessment. second-half NManai-Williams A scrappy opening few ripping the ball free of wing minutes, with the Samoans Takudzwa Ngwenya close to largely testing the USA the Americans tryline. defence resulted in a penalty The ball ran loose captain to the Pacific islanders and Samoa’s fullback Tim Nanai-Williams (centre) scores a try Ofisa Treviranus picked it fly-half Pisi slotted it over the American defence for first try for his country. once again penalised. The Samoa power up and went over the line for 3-0. fullback Tim Manai-Williams Pisi failed to convert to famously ill-disciplined However, when Samoa -- Pisi’s curates egg of a day Pisi turned creator in the -- cousin of All Blacks great leave the score 8-0 but added Samoans by contrast had by came under pressure for the with the boot continued as his 20th minute. He produced a -- to run a penalty seven minutes later contrast yet to attract referee first time Clancy awarded the conversion attempt came off delightful grubber kick behind onto and touch down for his for 11-0 with the Americans George Clancy’s ire. United States a penalty after a the post. All Blacks survive Puma scare trounce Uruguay Argentina’s first half lead was built on a try by 20-year- old lock Guido Petti converted by Nicolas Sanchez who also kicked two penalties. In the second spell Argentina were restricted to one further Sanchez penalty. Before a capacity 89,019 at Wembley, a record World Cup crowd, New Zealand were expected to win and wanted to make an emphatic statement. But they could not have Wales’ centre (centre) runs in to score been happy with their inability conversions. to breakdown the Argentina ory Allen scored a hat- Wales now move on to much defence despite dominating trick as Wales laboured to tougher pool matches against possession and territory. aC 54-9 victory over minnows England at Twickenham on , who went Uruguay and suffered new Saturday, followed by Fiji in into the match with eight injury scares in the World Cup Cardiff on October 1 and then New Zealand’s scrum half Aaron Smith does a dummy pass and runs to score a try tries from six previous Tests yesterday. Australia on October 10, again But the gallant Pumas a few minutes when Conrad against Argentina, was It was not the avalanche of at Twickenham. aron Smith ignited a late were worn down by the black Smith was sent off before starved of the ball for most of points against the world’s 19th Just the top two are revival as the All Blacks machine in a fractious clash McCaw returned to the battle. the match. ranked nation that the 71,800 guaranteed of automatic Aoverhauled Argentina to start which saw three players yellow But any hopes Argentina had The All Blacks opening crowd in the Millennium qualification for the quarter- their World Cup defence with carded including All Blacks’ of emulating Japan’s stunning points all came from Carter Stadium wanted. finals from the so-called ‘Pool a 26-16 victory before a record skipper Richie McCaw for victory over South Africa penalties as Argentina, But it ensured a crucial of Death’. crowd at Wembley Stadium the third time in his 143-Test evaporated in the 56th minute struggling for territory, bonus point in the battle with Wales coach yesterday. career. when scrum-half Aaron Smith were forced into a series of England and Australia for top rested key forwards Alun Wyn The Pumas threatened an McCaw admitted that his darted around the side of a infringements. place in Pool A. Jones, and upset when they led 13-12 side had to dig deep to get back ruck for the All Blacks opening The second of Carter’s The Welsh scored four , and a crucial trio at half-time and jumped to a into the game. But he said “I try. four first half penalties came first-half tries, ’s of backs in , Jamie 16-12 advantage early in the thought the second half was a It revived the world when Argtentina flanker Pablo effort preceding Allen’s hat- Roberts and , and second spell. The All Blacks lot more clinical.” champions who followed with Matera was yellow-carded, but trick. , Gareth in their absence the Welsh superior possession advantage The All Blacks played nearly a try to . it was Argentina who made Davies (2) and team struggled to click in a was crushed in a vice-like 20 minutes with a man down converted both tries and landed the most of the one-man crossed in the second period, scrappy display against a team defence. and with a two-man deficit for four penalties. difference. hitting seven with just four professionals.