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Samoa produced a devastating attacking display to beat France 78-4 in the Rugby League World Cup on Friday, running in try after try in a one-sided contest. The Pacific Islanders were in irresistible form and showed why they are among the favourites for the tournament.
The Samoans took control of the game early and never let go, scoring with almost every visit to the French half. Their power and pace proved too much for the French defence, which struggled to cope with the speed and physicality of the Samoa attack.
France did manage to find the try line once, but it was little more than a consolation against a Samoa side that kept coming. The Pacific Islanders added try after try in the second half, with their supporters in full voice as the points piled up.
The win sent a message to the rest of the tournament. Samoa have a squad full of top-level talent, and on this form they will take some stopping as the competition moves towards the knockout stages.
France will need to regroup quickly after a heavy defeat. They face a tough task to progress from their group, but they will take heart from their effort and look to improve in their remaining games. Samoa's performance was a reminder of the depth of talent in the Pacific Islands, and their squad is full of players who ply their trade in the best leagues in the world. Their power and pace were too much for France, and the scoreline reflected the gulf between the two sides on the day. The win will have sent a message to the rest of the tournament, with Samoa among the favourites to go all the way. France, for their part, will need to regroup quickly, but they will take heart from their effort and look to improve in their remaining games. The World Cup has already produced some memorable moments, and Samoa's display will rank among the best of the tournament so far.
Source: Sky Sports
