Manu Samoa overcame their heavily publicised off-field problems to score a much needed win over Canada at the Stade de la Rabine in historic Brittany. Rain made for slightly unpleasant conditions, but nothing that effected the play or state of the pitch in any significant way. Samoa held the vast majority of both possession and field position in the first half, yet failed to crack the Canadian defense and somehow only managed to head into the break with a 6 point lead.

After fading badly in both its previous matches, Canada decided to flip the script by stumbling through the first half like a drunk on parade before lifting their play in the second. Their first phase attack was comedically unrehearsed, with several forwards looking utterly bemused at what their modus operandi should be. Numerous penalties didn’t help matters, nor did some very casual execution of the basic skills, particularly in the kicking department. Resolute defense was the only thing that kept the Samoans from racking up an embarrassing score.

Thankfully the offensive display improved markedly in the second half, though to be fair it’s hard to see how it could have possibly gotten worse. It was almost as if they didn’t even look at the game plan until halftime, or maybe the smelling salts were late arriving. Either way, something started to click and with the Samoans tiring rapidly after multiple phases of attack, Conor Trainor stepped past four defenders and offloaded to Gordon McRorie, but the scrumhalf dropped the ball with the line at his mercy.

It was a tragic mistake, and likely the turning point in the match. Samoa called in the cavalry and within moments Winston Stanley smashed a blindsided Aaron Carpenter into next week, dislodging the ball for David Lemi to hack it 70 metres down the pitch. McRorie somehow got back in time to disrupt a certain try, but it was only prolonging the inevitable. Canada botched their own throw-in and after a couple phases prop Anthony Perenise accented his try scoring prowess with a picture perfect pick and go from 5 metres out.

With the replacements streaming in to replace tired legs, Sean White sparked a breakout from deep inside his own territory, resulting in glorious field position by virtue of a penalty kick into the corner. This time Canada got it right, executing their catch and drive and when it collapsed White found Trainor cutting in on an angle to dive over for an uplifting score.

Sadly the dreaded restart that has plagued Canada on its tour thus far reared its ugly head once again, and in catastrophic fashion. What occurred was unspeakably pitiful, and the result – a try for the first and only Samoan to touch the ball – was a rusted blunt object through the belly of Canadian fans and players alike. The irony was lost on no-one that it was Winston Stanley who did the damage. Not even the amiable Gareth Rees could crack a smile at that.

Canada wrap up their tour this week in Bucharest, an uninviting prospect fraught with peril. Only a win can salvage a disappointing autumn, and even then it might not be enough. For Samoa it’s on to London, where no expectations await beyond actually showing up and performing their pre-match war dance. Should they happen to further oblige our lust with a cracking on-field display, the rugby world – or should that be World Rugby? – will be thankful.

SAMOA 23 vs 13 CANADA
Friday, November 14, 18:00 GMT, Vannes

SCORING
12 mins – M. Stanley pen 3-0
19 mins – M. Stanley pen 6-0
30 mins – M. Stanley pen 9-0
34 mins – G. McRorie pen 9-3
42 mins – G. McRorie pen 9-6
60 mins – A. Perenise try 14-6
61 mins – M. Stanley con 16-6
71 mins – C. Trainor try 16-11
72 mins – J. Pritchard con 16-13
73 mins – W. Stanley try 21-13
74 mins – M. Stanley con 23-13

CARDS
28 mins – C. Trainor yellow (professional foul)

SAMOA
A. Tuala (F. Autagavaia 62); A. Alofa (W. Stanley 56), R. Lee-Lo, A. Leiua, D. Lemi (capt.); M. Stanley, K. Fotuali’i (P. Cowley 77); S. Taulafo (V. Afatia 77), O. Avei (M. Leiataua 70), C. Johnston (A. Perenise 56); F. Paulo, D. Leo (K. Thompson 56); M. Fa’asavalu, T.J. Ioane (J. Lam 66), O. Treviranus.

CANADA
J. Pritchard; J. Hassler, C. Trainor, C. Hearn (J. Wilson-Ross 74), D.T.H. van der Merwe; C. Braid (P. Parfrey 65), G. McRorie (S. White 63); H. Buydens (capt.) (A Tiedemann 72), A. Carpenter (R. Barkwill 70), J. Marshall (J. Ilnicki 5-11, 72); J. Cudmore, B. Beukeboom (J. Phelan 32); K. Gilmour (R. Thorpe 56), N. Dala, J. Sinclair.

Referee: G. Clancy (IRFU)
Assistants: A. Ruiz (FFR) & C. Blessano (FIR)
TMO: n/a