Fa'alogo scores four as Samoa beat France 78-4 at Rugby League World Cup

Samoa scored 14 tries in a 78-4 victory over France at the Men's Rugby League World Cup in Parramatta on Friday, with replacement winger Sua Fa'alogo contributing four of them. According to BBC Sport, the Melbourne Storm player entered earlier than planned after Deine Mariner suffered a hamstring strain, then led the scoring in the Pool B-C match.

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Mariner had scored the opening try before his departure. Benaiah Ioelu crossed twice, while Jermaine McEwen, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Stephen Crichton, Shawn Blore, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Izack Tago and Francis Molo also scored. Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet supplied France's only try in the first half. Samoa's total surpassed the 62-4 victory they recorded against the same opposition in Warrington at the previous World Cup four years earlier.

France were under immediate pressure as Samoa scored five tries in the opening 20 minutes. Their difficulties were compounded by head injuries to winger Leo Darrelatour and stand-off Cesar Rouge, although Rouge returned after an assessment. Head coach Laurent Frayssinous acknowledged his side's disorganisation during that opening period, before pointing to the standard of competition Samoa's players encounter at club level.

All but one member of Samoa's squad belongs to an NRL club, BBC Sport reported. France's side, by contrast, consists largely of Super League players, with South Sydney Rabbitohs centre Latrell Siegwalt the exception. Frayssinous argued that both competitions were improving but that the NRL was developing more quickly, particularly in players' decision-making and execution under pressure. He also said he would welcome the NRL's proposed investment in Super League.

Samoa coach Ben Gardiner said Fa'alogo had been expected to feature at some point but was required sooner than anticipated. His four-try contribution followed Mariner's injury, which will be assessed with a scan. The report did not establish how long Mariner might be unavailable, leaving the extent of the setback unresolved despite Samoa's commanding result.

The men's match formed the first part of a double-header at Western Sydney Stadium. Australia subsequently defeated Samoa 40-0 in the Women's Rugby League World Cup, scoring seven unanswered tries in their Pool A opener. Australia's coach Jess Skinner nevertheless identified errors to address and called for greater support for the women's competition after some spectators left following the men's game.