Pool C: Georgia - 9 Western Samoa - 46: Twenty-one points from outhalf Earl Va'a, including one of six tries, secured Samoa victory over a gallant Georgia that took the Pacific islanders to the top of Pool C yesterday.
Samoa were made to work hard against a Georgian team who showed great heart but were let down by some ragged play and their consistent technical infringements.
Samoa are top of the pool after two games courtesy of the bonus point earned for scoring four tries in both their opening games.
Georgia enjoyed the rare pleasure of leading a World Cup match after Paliko Jimsheladze landed a fifth-minute penalty but it was a short-lived advantage. Samoa were soon into their stride as left winger Sailosi Tagicakibau ended a quickfire backline move to touch down in the 10th minute.
It was the forwards who earned the second in the 23rd minute, putting up a sustained bout of pressure on the Georgian line that ended with Va'a escaping to cross. Scrumhalf Steven So'oialo was similarly slippery from the back of a maul for the third try after 32 minutes.
Va'a, who also landed an early penalty, was successful with all three first-half conversions while Jimsheladze kept Georgia just about in touch with a second penalty and a drop goal.
Just when Samoa appeared to be running out of ideas captain Semo Sititi led by example as the big number eight blasted through on a 30-metre run through to the line. Dominic Feaunati and Brian Lima helped themselves to late tries.
SAMOA: T Vili; R Fanuatanu, T Fanolua, B Lima, S Tagicakibau; E Va'a, S So'oialo; K Lealamanu'a, J Meredith, J Tomuli, O Palepoi, L Lafaiali'i, P Poulus, M Fa'asavalu, S Sititi (capt). Replacements: D Feaunati for Fanuatanu (7 mins); D Rasmussen for Fanolua (53 mins); S Vaili for Fa'asavalu (53 mins); K Viliamu for Palepoi (64 mins); S Lemalu for Lealamanu'a (70 mins); D Tyrell for So'oialo (73 mins); M Schwalger for Meredith (78 mins)
GEORGIA: B Khekhelashvili; M Urjukashvili, T Zibzibadze, I Giorgadze, V Katsadze; P Jimsheladze, I Abuseridze; G Shvelidze, A Giorgadze, S Nikolaenko, Z Mchedlishvili, V Nadiradze, G Labadze, G Yachvili, I Zedguinidze. Replacements: M Kvirikashvili for Abuseridze (34 mins); B Khamashuridze for Khekhelashvili (41 mins); V Didebulidze for Nadiradze (56 mins); D Bolgashvili for Labadze (64 mins); A Margvelashvili for Nikolaenko (68 mins).
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland).
