Samoa vs Italy Apia 5th July

The score is 25-25 with fifteen minutes to go.

Italy looked the better side before Samoa started getting into game. Samoa gifted an intercept to Italy, then put together some phases for some tries of their own.

While Italy look to be finishing stronger, they have blown some possession near the Samoan line, and keep giving penalties away in their own half.

[67:00 They've just done exactly that, and Samoa now lead 28-25 with 10 ten go.]

[69:00 Louis Lynagh looked for all the world like he was through but got brought down short of the line by a despairing tap tackle, and lost the ball forward]

That's surely the game.

Samoa break away for a try to make it 33-25 with only two minutes to go.

That came just moments after Italy chose to kick for an attacking limeout but did't throw the ball in straight.

Theo McFarland appears to be the Samoan captain for this match.

Full-time.

Samoa have won.

This is a striking result. Although it was in Apia, the Samoan team had very little time to prepare, and it was their first game under new coach Mahonri Schwalger, who used to captain the side. They did have eight players from the Pasifika Super Rugby side, which may have given a bit more cohesion.

The islands are an incredibly difficult place to play, just look at the Druas home form in super rugby. Also Samoa ran one of the best NZ sides ever close in 2015 in Apia. It's great to see Samoa getting to play at home, especially given the ever increasing influence of rugby league in the region.

Not great quality highlights but you get the idea.