Argentina vs Samoa Live: Rugby World Cup Result, Final Score and Reaction

Fullback Emiliano Boffelli was man of the match with 16 points.

Bofelli scored an early try and converted four of five kicks from the tee as the Pumas returned to winning ways after a disappointing 27-10 loss to 14-man England in their Pool D opener.

„It’s a big win for us, very important for this tournament,” said Argentina captain Julián Montoya, who first thanked his rowdy teammates.

“In the last game against England, we didn’t do what we should have done and today we did it well. There’s still a lot to improve but that’s exciting too.

Samoa only managed a penalty kick from former Wallabies flyhalf Christian Lialifano, who instead found hooker Sama Malolo slicing his way through for his third try of the match five minutes from time.

It set up a frantic finale but Nicolas Sanchez, who came off the bench to win his 99th cap for Argentina, scored the final penalty from inside the Samoan half to make the game safe.

Samoa really turned up the pressure in the last ten minutes and looked close to leveling, but Argentina regained their composure and Sanchez’s kick sealed victory.

Man of the match, Argentina’s Emiliano Boffelli scored 16 of their 19 points.

Territory: Argentina 59%, Samoa 41%

Possession: Argentina 62%, Samoa 68%

Meters taken: Argentina 381, Samoa 129

Defenders scored: Argentina 36, ​​Samoa 9

Malls win: Argentina 8, Samoa 3

Rucks won: Argentina 86, Samoa 46

Scrum Success: Argentina 100% (9/9) Samoa 77.8% (7/9)

Lineout wins: Argentina 100% (16/16), Samoa 72.7% (8/11)

Penalties: Argentina 11, Samoa 13

Tackles: Argentina 77, Samoa 141

Tackles missed: Argentina 9, Samoa 36

Nicolás Sánchez, the country’s all-time leading scorer, slotted the winning penalty in his 99th game for Argentina. The score lost the bonus point as Samoa went down by more than 7 points.

Most tackles: Jonathan Toumatine (Samoa, 14)

Most Meters: Juan Cruz Mallia (Argentina, 97)

Most achieve success: Pablo Matera (Argentina, 8)

Most Points: Emiliano Boffelli (Argentina, 16)

It was littered with handling errors from both sides, particularly in the rain at Saint-Etienne in the first half, as Argentina ran out 19–10 winners.

After Siwa Da from Samoa, Christian Leilifano hosted the Pool D match. Within 35 seconds fullback Duncan Baiava was booked for a tackle on fly-half Santiago Carreras in the air. He was sent to the sin bin to await a verdict from the off-field review, then a yellow card was deemed the appropriate punishment and he returned to the pitch after a ten-minute suspension.

Argentina took advantage of their one-man advantage and Emiliano Boffelli scored after eight minutes. After a fumble towards the line, he reached out with his left arm to regain control, then converted himself to make it 7-0.

Christian Leilaifano then had a chance to put three men on the board for Samoa, but his penalty effort went wide after 15 minutes. Boffelli converted his first penalty chance from 45 meters out to extend Argentina’s lead to 10-0.

Leliifano slotted his own penalty at the second time of asking 49 meters out and Samoa moved within a converted try before Bofelli added to Argentina’s tally with another penalty. The score was 13-3 at the break.

After the break, the rain subsided, but errors still permeated the game. Boffelli looks to score a second, but the TMO spots his double move and the score is off. He then added to the score with a penalty on 52 minutes.

As Samoa scored on 75 minutes, Sama Malolo dribbled and moved them within meters before the ball came back to him several phases later and he collided with Aloy D’Angelo Luila to convert.

Nicolas Sanchez scored his 99th penalty to make it 19-10.

Sanchez had the final word and kicked the ball to end the match. They won the match but failed to get the bonus point.

Nicolas Sanchez scored his 99th cap with a long-range shot on 79 minutes.

75mins First tap from Sama Malolo with a solo effort, going within a metre, eventually the ball comes back to him, thunder over him! Alai D’Angelo Leuila converted!