Manu Samoa Fights Back for Draw Against Chile in World Cup Qualifiers

Manu Samoa salvaged a hard-fought draw against Chile, finishing 32-32 in their opening match of the 2027 Rugby World Cup qualifiers in Salt Lake City, Utah. In a thrilling encounter, Samoa faced a challenging situation, trailing by 19 points with less than 20 minutes remaining. However, the team rallied, with France-based player Abraham Papali’i scoring two crucial tries, giving them hope for qualification as they prepare for a return match in Chile next weekend.

The match began with a strong start from Chile, who opened the scoring just four minutes in with a try from Javier Eissmann. They continued to dominate, with Matias Garafulic contributing two tries at the 16th and 48th minutes, and Santiago Pedrero adding another in the 23rd minute. By halftime, Chile held a commanding lead at 25-8, leaving Samoa with significant work to do.

In the second half, Samoa demonstrated resilience, with Latrell Ah Kiong and Alamanda Motuga also getting on the scoresheet. Papali’i’s second try came just moments after the final whistle had sounded, as he dashed through the Chilean defense to score, bringing the score to 32-32. Playmaker Christian Leali’ifano had the chance to secure a dramatic victory with a conversion, but his attempt went wide, sealing the draw instead.

Captain Michael Aalaalato’a acknowledged the challenge posed by the Chilean side, stating, “We had to dig deep there. Chile put us under a lot of pressure, they played really well when they entered our half.” He expressed satisfaction with their performance after weeks of preparation, emphasizing the importance of taking lessons from this match into the upcoming game. “We are pretty clear on what the scenario is right now, so we just need to win,” he added.

Despite the disappointment of not securing a win, Samoa heads into the second match with renewed optimism. The team has been on the road since their match against Tonga in August, traveling through New Zealand and Denver before arriving in Salt Lake City. In this match, they also faced the setback of having two tries disallowed, highlighting the competitive nature of the game.

Chilean captain Clemente Savedra noted the team’s strong first half but recognized the need for improvement after the break. “It was a really good match, we had a good first half. The second half, we have to do an analysis on Monday to see what we can do better,” he said.

The winner of this two-match series will secure a spot at the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, while the losing team will face a final qualifier in Dubai in two months. As the teams prepare for their rematch, both sides are determined to give their all for a chance at World Cup glory.