Manu Samoa’s 2027 Rugby World Cup hopes hinge on play-off against Chile

Article – RNZ

Manu Samoa failed to secure direct entry to the 2027 RWC after they were handed a 29-13 defeat by the USA in the 2025 Pacific Nations Cup fifth-place play-off in Denver.

Iliesa Tora, RNZ Pacific senior sports journalist

Manu Samoa have failed to secure direct entry to the 2027 Rugby World Cup (RWC) after they were handed a 29-13 defeat by the USA in the 2025 Pacific Nations Cup fifth-place play-off in Denver on Monday.

Samoa’s loss means that the Eagles have qualified for the World Cup in Australia, taking the third spot available alongside Canada and Tonga from the PNC series.

Manu Samoa still have another chance at securing a place at the 2027 RWC if they win a play-off against South American side Chile.

The winner will qualify as the 23rd team for Australia in two years’ time.

The US led 8-6 at halftime after Samoa had taken an early lead through flyhalf Rodney Iona.

But the hosts struck back with a try to Toby Fricker, who ran in out wide to put his side’s first points on the board.

Iona claimed three points through a penalty kick while his opposite Luke Carty also added three to their scoreline before halftime.

Replacement halfback Melani Matavao ran the backline with speed, combining with veteran Christian Leali’ifano, who came out of retirement, to send centre Melani Nanai through a gap to touch down and raise the Samoans’ hopes.

However, the Eagles replied with Carty’s converted try levelling terms at 13-all in the 65th minute.

The Jason Damm picked up from the base of a ruck and dived over for the Eagles in the 73rd minute before replacement Kaleb Geiger finished off an Eagles attacking move, the result of a handling error by Tuna Tuitama, who failed to cleanly pick up a loose ball on the ground.

Geiger crashed his way thrugh tacklers in the 79th minute to seal the win.

Statistics showed that Samoa enjoyed more percentage of territory, at 51% against 49% but lost possession, with the Eagles enjoying 52 percent.

The Samoans had 396 ball carries against the Eagles 280, but lost in the scrums and lineout battles, where the US had the edge.

Samoa lost two lineout throws.

On penalties conceded, Manu Samoa gave away 12, compared to the Eagles nine.

The result now means that Samoa will have to win the two matches against Chile to qualify.

Game one of the series will be in Salt Lake City, Utah on 20 September with the return fixture taking place at the Estadio Sausalito in Viña del Mar, Chile on 27 September.

The winner of Sudamérica 2 vs Pacific 4 will qualify for Australia, while the loser will join Belgium, Namibia and Sudamérica 3 (Brazil or Paraguay) in the final place repechage tournament in November.

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