MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015 SPORTS BRIGHTON: Samoa’s Tim Nanai-Williams scores a try during the Rugby World Cup Pool B match against USA at the Brighton Community Stadium. — AP Samoa see off US challenge to get first World Cup win BRIGHTON: Samoa captain Ofisa Treviranus ment. A scrappy opening few minutes, with However, when Samoa came under pres- points to the Samoans with an infringement tained. Samoa left the Americans needing two led from the front as the Pacific islanders the Samoans largely testing the USA defence sure for the first time Clancy awarded the and Pisi added the three points for a half-time converted tries to even force a draw with 10 opened their World Cup campaign with a 25- resulted in a penalty to the Pacific islanders United States a penalty after a Samoan went 14-8 lead. The Pacific islanders extended their minutes remaining as Mike Stanley-who had 16 win over United States in Pool B yesterday. and fly-half Pisi slotted it over for 3-0. offside. Ireland-born fly-half AJ MacGinty con- lead early in the second-half NManai-Williams replaced Tusi Pisi-kicked a superb penalty from Treviranus scored a battling try and Tusi Pisi turned creator in the 20th minute. He verted it for 11-3. ripping the ball free of wing Takudzwa wide out on the left for 25-11. They scored one Pusi kicked four penalties as Samoa stayed produced a delightful grubber kick behind the MacGinty, who sprang from the same alma Ngwenya close to the Americans tryline. try as replacement Chirs Baumann went over comfortably ahead of the Americans through- American defence for fullback Tim Manai- mater as iconic Irish centre Brian O’Driscoll The ball ran loose captain Ofisa Treviranus but MacGinty failed to convert. out the game in Brighton. Williams-cousin of All Blacks great Sonny Bill Blackrock College, showed he is not just there picked it up and went over the line-Pisi’s Samoa next play South Africa on Saturday, “Our discipline was excellent today and the Williams-to run onto and touch down for his for kicking as his vision created a superb try curates egg of a day with the boot continued which promises to be a bruising encounter boys were brilliant,” said the captain after both first try for his country. after the US won a Samoan lineout. He took as his conversion attempt came off the post. after the Springboks humiliation by Japan on teams knelt and said prayers together follow- Pisi failed to convert to leave the score 8-0 the ball just outside his 22 and burst through Pisi and MacGinty exchanged penalties to Saturday. The United States face Scotland. ing the final whistle. Predicted big hits quickly but added a penalty seven minutes later for the Samoan defence before offloading to see the score tick over to 22-11 with just over “Scotland will be a tough game but this materialised after the start with American cen- 11-0 with the Americans once again penalised. Seamus Kelly, who cut inside and found cap- 20 minutes to go. The game began to peter out game will have been useful for it,” said US tre Thretton Palamo leaving opposite number The famously ill-disciplined Samoans by con- tain Chrius Wyles who went over for the try- with 15 minutes remaining, a succession of set coach Mike Tolkin. “Frustrating errors and Rey Lee-Lo shaken on the turf in less than a trast had by contrast yet to attract referee MacGinty sent his conversion wide. pieces prompting the crowd into a rendition of our lack of discipline did for us. I am disap- minute. Lee-Lo was sent for a head assess- George Clancy’s ire. The Americans, though, again donated ‘Sweet Chariot’ to keep themselves enter- poiunted.”— AFP South Africa reels from ‘humiliation’ by Japan JOHANNESBURG: The Springboks’ stunning the South African Rugby Union to transform defeat by Japan in their opening match of the the Springboks team will grow from many Rugby World Cup has shocked South Africa, quarters” Even labor unions waded in, with casting doubt on the team’s chances of pro- the powerful confederation of trade unions, gressing to the final stages of the tournament. Cosatu lambasting Meyer. “The ‘old’ injured “Ultimate Bok Humiliation”, “Boks Humiliated”- white men were just useless and gave Japan were some of the headlines in South Africa’s the space to play a great game,” said a state- main newspapers yesterday. ment by the Western Cape branch of Cosatu. The Sunday Times stated that the defeat “In the first half, Heyneke had all white players by the team ranked 13 in the world “rocked except the back three, and they were com- the game to its very foundations”-South pletely outplayed by Japan.” Africa are ranked number three and have Social media was a mix of criticism for the twice won the World Cup. Springboks, particularly the obsession of Under the headline “Bok heads to roll”, the coach Heyneke Meyer with veterans, and paper said the future of coach Heyneke Meyer praise for Japan. may be in doubt following the shock defeat. “Most appalling effort I have ever seen ... It also said the explosive match exposed flaws you should be ashamed,” tweeted Vlam in Meyer’s “old man” game plan. Meyer’s team Viljoen. “Boks are the new Bafana Bafana,” said included world cup veterans like Victor Fana Mokoena, referring to the national foot- Matfield and Bryan Habana and was the most ball team that suffered a humiliating Africa experienced South African outfit ever to take Cup of Nations qualifying defeat in Mauritania the to field with a combined total of 851 caps two weekends ago. across the 15 starters. “Thinking of the great Bok coaches and In his column, former Springbok Ashwin captains we have had and how most would Willemse wrote that the impact of the defeat have resigned after a loss to Japan,” was the “may be so devastating that we might not view of Lusty Len.“Old men should not have even make it past the quarter-finals or be played. Why not use young talent?” asked lucky to even reach that stage”. As a rugby- Heidi Middleton. mad country, the 34-32 defeat also drew “Tough, painful and, most of all, humiliat- widespread shock and surprise from fans, ing,” was the summary of Fire Cracker. “Meyer who expected the Springboks to cruise past a has a cunning plan to finish second in group Japan side that had not won a World Cup and avoid New Zealand in semi-finals,” joked match since 1991. “I thought it was an Wordfish. Chris Lee hailed Japan: “This is what absolute farce, I was expecting South Africa to sport is all about ... a huge victory for team CARDIFF: Wales’ Hallam Amos is tackled by Uruguay’s Francisco Bulanti (left) during the Rugby World Cup Pool A match at the Millennium win by a way, way big margin,” said Wayne spirit and hard work.” Stadium. — AP Saralina, a 46-year-old fan. “I admire and respect dedication, determi- The Springboks went to the World Cup nation and heart,” tweeted Esme Nortje, say- under the usual cloud of a race row over the ing Japan were now her second favourite Allen hat-trick helps selection of the team. Critics, including top World Cup team after the Springboks. government officials have repeatedly accused Japan play Scotland on Wednesday in their the sport’s administrators of maintaining elit- second Pool B game while South Africa have ism by mostly selecting white players. an additional three days to recover before The Sunday Times said “the pressure on meeting Samoa on Saturday. — AFP Wales past Uruguay Salford secure Super League status CARDIFF: Cory Allen scored a hat-trick as Wales riority started to show. “They were going to be defence, the centre squirming past Rodrigo Silva laboured to a 54-9 victory over minnows extremely passionate,” said Wales captain Sam to score. Berchesi kept Uruguay in the game MANCHESTER: Junior Sa’u and Cory which is a play-off between fourth and fifth Uruguay and suffered new injury scares in the Warburton. “It was just weathering that storm in with a third penalty after another high. Ball tack- Paterson enjoyed try-scoring returns as for the last top-flight spot for 2016. World Cup yesterday. the first 10 minutes, being accurate and being as le before Allen was played in for his second after Salford Red Devils secured their Super League Victories for Wakefield and Bradford over It was not the avalanche of points against the patient as we could. “I’m a little bit disappointed Scott Williams broke the line of a well-organised status with a bruising 24-10 win at Widnes the weekend did at least guarantee a play-off world’s 19th ranked nation that the 71,800 we didn’t look after the ball well enough so defence. Vikings. The two sides headed into their chance and in the process condemn Halifax, crowd in the Millennium Stadium wanted. But it there’s a lot we can improve on,” the flanker Worryingly for Wales, first prop Paul James fourth meeting of the season level on eight Leigh and Sheffield to life in the second tier ensured a crucial bonus point in the battle with added. went off and then full-back Liam Williams, mak- points, knowing that victory for either would next season. Michael Sio helped himself to England and Australia for top place in Pool A. But Warburton was confident Wales’ failure to ing his comeback from a long injury lay-off and cement their status for next season.