Duo feature against Wallabies, Piutau scores Tonga consolation

The Wallabies were 22-3 in front at half-time, but Samoa hit back after the break with replacement scrum-half Dwayne Polataivao scoring two tries in eight minutes.

Dane Haylett-Petty and Matt To’omua crossed in the last 10 minutes to see the hosts safely to victory. Samoa briefly threatened a repeat of the upset they achieved in their last match against the Wallabies in Sydney in 2011, with their resurgence in the second half after the first had ended with an unfortunate injury.

Starting scrum-half Scott Malolua had a Test debut to forget, dislocating his shoulder in a tryline ruck to put his participation in the World Cup in serious doubt.

His replacement Polataivao made an immediate impact, though, scoring his first try in the 53rd minute after the Pacific islanders had dominated an attacking scrum and the second eight minutes later following a line-break from centre Reynold Lee-Lo.

Elsewhere, Siale Piutau scored a late consolation in Tonga’s defeat to New Zealand at Waikato Stadium on Saturday.

The All Blacks ran in 14 tries, before captain Piutau crossed in the 77th minute for a consolation try for the visitors, who open their Pool C account against England in on September 22nd.