Connacht claim upset win over Samoa
In the biggest upset since the Irish war of 1919, Connacht managed to overcome Samoa 26-22 in Galway and claim a famous victory on Tuesday 9 November. The island nation came in as almost 1/5 favourites,
but the inspired play of the impoverished Irish province's side took home the glory.
The Samoans fielded a weakened midweek team for the match with the Irish province and none of the starting 15 are expected to feature against Ireland on Saturday 13 November.
Samoa’s Misioka Timoteo, Falemiga Selesele and Brando Vaalu scored tries for the visitors
However, Connacht ran out winners with two tries of their own scored by Brian Touhy and released Irish international John Muldoon. Miah Nikora’s boot was also a significant factor in the win.
Timeoteo scored the opening try of a highly entertaining game as both sides attempted to play attacking rugby. The forward picked a wonderful line to run and scrum-half Junior Poleuligaga wrong footed
the Connacht defence with a cheeky pass.
Selesele managed to add a second try as Connacht’s plucky lads struggled to live with the Samoan side.
Three penalties by Connacht out-half Nikora kept the home side in touch and in the 36th minute the Irish province’s grit and determination was rewarded with a fine try.
Man-of-the-match Eoin Griffin was instrumental and the young academy player’s feed led to Troy Nathan’s break. The full-back’s sublime pass cut the Samoan defence and allowed Tuohy to scamper through a
gap in the Samoan cover, lifting the hearts of the Gaels in attendance.
Nikora added the conversion to make the 16-17 to the visitors at half-time.
In the early stages of the second half some wonderful handling and play looked as though the Samoan team would run away with the match, but the Irish spirit never flagged and Connacht began to produce
some scintillating rugby of their own.
This was helped by Samoa’s indiscipline as hooker Tii Pauloa and Poleuligaga were both sin binned.
Griffin was at the centre of all Connacht’s moves and his under-the-leg pass was a fantastic piece of skill that was fitting in such a match.
A Nikora penalty gave Connacht the lead before Samoa responded with a try from Vaalu after a fantastic burst by Tautua Otto to put the Samoan’s 19-22 up.
Muldoon came on as substitute and scored in the 62nd minute as he forced his way over the try line. Nikora added the conversion to make the score 26-22.
Samoa tried to come back, but Connacht who had survived some early scares managed to keep the visitors at bay and hold on to claim a famous victory.
After the match Connacht coach, Eric Elwood said, “We always said we want to bring our own guys through. It was an opportunity for the younger lads to get game time. We rotate our squad very little and
these guys stood up to the plate and showed what they can do.”
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