Samoa make early World Cup statement with France demolition

The Pacific Islanders, who famously beat England to reach the 2022 final, overpowered the hapless French in an electrifying start to the tournament.

A Samoan side featuring Wakefield Trinity's Super League Grand Final winner Jazz Tevaga raced into a 34-4 lead before half-time and did not relent, finishing with 14 tries in a record victory for the nation.

Sualauvi Fa'alogo – an early replacement for the injured Deine Mariner – led the way with four in a statement performance.

Samoa are effectively in a battle with England and Tonga for a semi-final place. They face their Tongan rivals in their final group game on November 1.

For England, who take on Tonga in their opening match tomorrow, the scale of Samoa's victory is an early reminder of the challenge facing them in a group that offers little margin for error.

Ben Gardiner's side came flying out of the traps against France, scoring five tries inside the first 18 minutes to end the contest early.

Mariner opened the scoring before leaving the field with a hamstring issue.

France's cause was not helped by the loss of Cesar Rouge, although he later returned, and Leo Darrelatour to injury but they were a distant second best from the off.

Ben Ioelu, Jermaine McEwen, Fa'alogo and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow all added their names to the scoresheet before the end of the first quarter.

France stemmed the tide through Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet but the punishment had only just begun.

Fa'alogo scored his second just before the break and Stephen Crichton kicked off the second-half scoring when he pounced on an error by Hull KR's Arthur Mourgue.

After Shawn Blore powered his way over, Fa'alogo flew over in the corner to complete his hat-trick and quickly added a fourth.

Fa'alogo was denied a fifth by the video referee but the dominant Samoans finished with a flourish with tries from Chanel Harris-Tavita, Izack Tago, Francis Molo and Ioelu.