Samoa put one foot in next year’s Rugby World Cup after they thumped Germany 66-15 in the first leg of their qualifier in Apia on Saturday.
Ed Fidow starred with a hat-trick while Melani Matavao grabbed a brace, with Alapati Leiua, Jack Lam, Joe Tekori, Dwayne Polataivao and a penalty try adding further points to the islanders’ tally.
Samoa face Germany in their first Rugby World Cup qualifier. The winner on aggregate over two legs will qualify for Pool A at #RWC2019! https://t.co/VljS8d8M1a
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) June 30, 2018
In reply Jaco Otto scored two second-half tries for Germany in a tough defeat.
Samoa responded in style to strident pre-match criticism from Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi as they outscored Germany 10 tries to two.
After a string of nine defeats since beating Canada in 2016, Malielegaoi told the players they “have no guts” and if they lost they “all have to resign from the team”.