Samoa beat England for seventy eight minutes of the match, unfortunately for Samoa England scored the match winning try in the 74th minute to win 18-17, and remain unbeaten at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, in Lille. England finished first in Pool D and have qualified for the quarter-finals against the runner up of Pool C.
Samoa started like a house on fire, however, Lock Ollie Chessum ran like a wing down the touchline to score England's first try of the match to lead 05-00 after ten minutes of play in the first half. Owen Farrell became the all time top point scorer for England when he converted a penalty to extend England's lead to 08-00 after seventeen minutes of play.
Samoa kept the pressure on England and combined by halfhearted defence by England made it "easy" for Nigel Ah-Wong to burst through several tackles to score in the corner. England led 08-07 after twenty two minutes of play.
Six minutes later Nigel Ah-Wong caughtd a kickpass by Lima Sopoaga in the ingoal area of England to score Samoa's second try. Samoa led England 14-08 and are in control of the match at that stage.
Despite two try being disallowed Samoa continued to attack, however, time ran out for Samoa and led 14-08 at the halftime break.
Samoa attacked from the start of the second half and set up camp in the England 22m. A converted penalty by Lima Sopoaga increased Samoa's lead to 17-08.
England upped their attack since the Samoa converted penalty and despite a try being disallowed and several missed opportunities to score, Owen Farrell converted a penalty to reduce Samoa's lead to 17-11 after thirteen minutes of play in the second half.
Following several minutes on Samoa's tryline Danny Care sniped from the back of a dominant scrum to score England,s second try to regain the lead with 18-17 and six minutes to play.
Scorers:
England: Tries: Ollie Chessum, Danny Care. Conversion: Owen Farrell. Penalties: Owen Farrell (2).
Samoa: Tries: Nigel Ah-Wong, Nigel Ah-Wong. Conversions: Lima Sopoaga (2). Penalty: Lima Sopoaga.
Teams:
England: 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Jamie George, 3 Dan Cole, 4 Maro Itoje, 5 Ollie Chessum, 6 Courtney Lawes, 7 Tom Curry, 8 Ben Earl, 9 Alex Mitchell, 10 George Ford, 11 Jonny May, 12 Owen Farrell (c), 13 Manu Tuilagi, 14 Joe Marchant, 15 Freddie Steward. Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Joe Marler, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 George Martin, 20 Billy Vunipola, 21 Danny Care, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Ollie Lawrence.
Samoa: 1 Jordan Lay, 2 Sama Malolo, 3 Michael Alaalatoa (c), 4 Sam Slade, 5 Brian Alainu'u'ese, 6 Theo McFarland, 7 Fritz Lee, 8 Steven Luatua, 9 Jonathan Taumateine, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 11 Neria Fomai, 12 Danny Toala, 13 Tumua Manu, 14 Nigel Ah-Wong, 15 Duncan Paia'aua. Replacements: 16 Seilala Lam, 17 James Lay, 18 Paul Alo-Emile, 19 Sootala Fa'aso'o, 20 Alamanda Motuga, 21 Melani Matavao, 22 Christian Leali'ifano, 23 Miracle Faiilagi.