Samoa 25, USA 21:Samoa ended their disappointing campaign with a scrappy win in their final Pool A match last night in St Etienne.
Samoa - without a dozen players, including captain Brian Lima, through injury and suspension after losing their first three games - led 22-3 at the break after a three-try blitz and seemed on course for a comfortable win.
However, they lost their way in the second half as the mostly-amateur Americans fought back strongly but ran out of time.
Samoa took charge from the off and ran in two tries in the first nine minutes.
Fullback Loki Crichton broke well and winger Lome Fa'atau crossed in the fifth minute.
Outhalf Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu set up Alesana Tuilagi and the Leicester man had enough momentum to get over.
SAMOA: Crichton; Fa'atau, Savealii, Mapusua, A Tuilagi; Fuimaono-Sapolu, Poluleuigaga; Lealamanua, Schwalger, Johnston, Lafaiali'i, Thompson, Sititi, Purdie, Vaeluaga. Replacements: Lemi for Fa'atau (60), Lui for Fuimaono-Sapolu (70), Sooialo for Poluleuigaga (70), Leleimalefaga for Lealamanua (70), Sefo for Schwalger (73), J Tekori for Thompson (64), Ulia for Vaeluaga (67). Tries: Fa'atau, A Tuilagi, Thompson. Cons: Crichton 2. Pens: Crichton 2. Sin-bin: Sefo (76).
USA: Wyles; Ngwenya, Eloff, Esikia, Sika; Hercus, Erskine; MacDonald, Lentz, Osentowski, Parker, Mexted, Stanfill, Clever, Mo'unga. Replacements: Tuipulotu for Esikia (73), Moeakiola for MacDonald (68), Burdette for Clever (45), Aylor for Mo'unga (64). Not used: Bloomfield, Petri, Malifa. Tries: Ngwenya, Stanfill. Cons: Hercus. Pens: Hercus 3. Sin-bin: Mo'unga (52).
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England).
