Samoa shock Wallabies
Samoa claimed a stunning 32-23 victory over Australia at the Sydney Olympic stadium on Sunday.
Last Updated: 17/07/11 7:56am
Samoa claimed a stunning 32-23 victory over Australia at the Sydney Olympic stadium on Sunday.
World rugby's second-ranked team were well beaten by the islanders just a week away from their Tri-Nations opener with South Africa.
The Samoans outscored the two-time World champions four tries to two for their first ever win over Australia in five meetings.
The 10th-ranked visitors got off to a flyer when Leicester Tigers winger Alesana Tuilaga raced 70 metres to score off a turnover in the 11th minute.
The powerful Tuilaga beat off Matt Giteau's tackle and crowned his runaway try with an extravagant swan dive in-goal.
Paul Williams added another try before the break as the visitors raced into a 17-0 lead.
The Wallabies clawed their way back into the contest after South African referee Marius Jonker lost patience with Samoa and lock Daniel Leo was yellow-carded for hands in the ruck.
Australia used their superior numbers in the scrum to put winger Digby Ioane over for a converted try two minutes before half-time and a couple of penalties cut the deficit to 17-13.
But Kane Thompson and George Pisi crossed for the visitors to snuff out any Aussie comeback, with fly-half Tusi Pisi completing a 12-point haul with the boot.
Giteau's 66th minute try out wide after a kick and regather from replacement forward Scott Higginbotham gave the Aussies a glimmer of hope, but the Samoans were not to be denied and held on for an historic victory.
Samoa were crushed 74-7 by Australia in 2005 in Sydney and had never before beaten a top-five ranked country - although they have beaten Wales three times, most notably at the 1991 World Cup.