SAMOA’S quest for a berth in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games fell short after losing to Australia 19-12 in a thriller during the Oceania Men’s Olympic Qualifier final at the ANZ Stadium in Suva yesterday.
Samoa led at the break 12-0 but three second half tries and two conversions by the men in gold secured the win.
Samoa coach Sir Gordon Tietjens said although the result was disappointing, his players had given their all.
“The result is disappointing, the commitment from the men certainly isn’t. Only good teams can bounce back and Australia bounced back,” Tietjens said.
Samoa now gets a second chance qualifying for the Olympics Qualifier repecharge next year but first off the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
“We got 10 tournaments before we hit that and hopefully we can get enough experience to get us through to Tokyo.”
Samoa: 1.Tofatu Solia 2.Alamanda Motuga 3.Belgium Tuatagaloa 4.Kirisimasi Savaiinaea 5.John Vaili 6.Paul Scanlan 8.Tomasi Alosio 9.Laaloi Leiula 10.Elisapeta Alofipo 11.Joe Perez 12.Losi Filipo 13.Tuna Tuimata.
Australia: 1.Henry Hutchinson 2.Simon Kennewell 3.Thomas Cusack 4.Lewis Holland 5.Benjamin O’Donnell 6.Joe Pincus 7.Joshua Turner 8.Jack Maddocks 10.Nicholas Malouf 11.Maurice Longbottom 12.Lachlan Anderson 13.Jesse Parahi.
