Sua Fa’alogo scored four tries off the bench as Samoa opened their Rugby League World Cup campaign by thrashing France 78-4 at CommBank Stadium in Sydney on Friday night.
Samoa ran in 14 tries to one, leading 34-4 at half-time before piling on another 44 points after the break, according to the official International Rugby League match centre and BBC Sport.
Stephen Crichton kicked 11 goals and scored a try of his own, hooker Benaiah Ioelu scored twice, and Deine Mariner, Jermaine McEwen, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Shawn Blore, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Izack Tago and Francis Molo also crossed. Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet scored France’s only try.
Fa’alogo’s record-equalling night
Fa’alogo came on early for the injured Mariner and scored twice before half-time, then completed his hat-trick and added a fourth in the second half. He became the second bench player to score a World Cup hat-trick and equalled Taylan May and David Nofoaluma for the most tries in a game for Samoa, Nine reported. A fifth try was overturned by the Bunker.
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Mariner injury the only worry
The one concern for Samoa was Mariner, who scored the first try inside three minutes but limped off soon after with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
“You can see the emotion … it looks as though he knows his hamstring may not be good,” Corey Parker said on Seven’s coverage, as reported by Nine.
France had a rough night from the start, losing five-eighth Cesar Rouge and winger Leo Darrelatour for head injury assessments in the opening stages, Nine reported.
Read more: Kalyn Ponga Needs Surgery on Broken Arm After Kiwis Debut
Penrith band back together
Co-captains Junior Paulo and Jarome Luai led a side that included former Penrith premiership team-mates Crichton, Brian To’o and Spencer Leniu, while Newcastle forwards McEwen and Francis Manuleleua made their Samoa debuts, the IRL said. To’o’s heavy hit on France fullback Arthur Mourgue early in the second half forced the error that led to Crichton’s try.
Samoa, beaten finalists at the last World Cup, will be among the sides chasing a semi-final spot, while their women’s team was set to face the Jillaroos in the second half of the CommBank Stadium double-header later on Friday night.
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