Australia continued a ruthless winning streak at the international level, easily accounting for Samoa by 38-12 in an entertaining match in Townsville.
Samoa were looking for revenge in the wake of last year's World Cup final heartache. Australia rebounded after a shaky start. From a penalty, it was clever ball playing in the middle with Isaah Yeo and Ben Hunt combining to find Payne Haas who beat desperate Samoa defence to cross for the Kangaroos first try after just four minutes. Kotoni Staggs made no mistakes and it was an early lead for the Kangaroos.
Australia maintained the rage and looked ruthless. From the scrum win, Australia created some lovely second phase where Cameron Munster combined with James Tedesco who had way too much pace for Izack Tago who could've got him if he had some proper medical treatment to score. Staggs' kick went away to the left hand-side.
Australia built foundations and were absolutely giving it to the Samoans early in this one. On the last tackle, Australia are running absolutely rampant. Samoa simply have had no footy and are hanging on for dear life. Ben Hunt delivered the crash pass to Tino Fa'asuamaleaui who beat four or five defenders to cross. Off the ensuring set, Cam Murray soon joined the procession adding to his record scoring in his fifth consecutive test. Australia threw the footy around as Payne Hass dragged defenders for an age, offloading to Hunt who found Munster who got it to Murray who crossed. Staggs converted and it was soon 22-0.
Off the back of an onside kick, Samoa recovered and built some pressure of their own. Luciano Leilua delivered a grubber kick and Murray Taulagi snuck behind Selwyn Cobbo to slam it down and get Samoa a much needed four pointer. Stephen Crichton added the extras, and it was 22-6. The rest of the first half was a mistake-a-thon. Both sides were guilty of letting the ball slip from their grasp. Australia pounced on the half-time break when Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow went from coast to coast to cross on the eve of half-time. Staggs converted for a 28-6 lead at the half.
Samoa were dangerous off second phase play to start the second half. Crichton and Sua Faalogo combined on an outside/inside play and Faalogo chipped over Tedesco and got the bounce to score for Samoa. However, the bunker spotted a knock on in the lead-up and boos rung out across Townsville when NO TRY flashed across the screen.
Four minutes later on the last tackle, Australia shifted it down the left hand side. Grant, Tedesco and Murray combined to find Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow. Grant Atkins conducted a scavenger hunt in the in-goal to find the ball on the ground and pointed to the spot. Staggs missed it to the left and it was 32-6. The rest of the half was scrappy as Australia grinded towards a date with New Zealand in a fortnight in Melbourne.
Despite this, Samoa kept on turning up and some lovely skills down the left saw Faalogo tap it onto Taulagi into space. He then found Luciano Leilua who just got the footy down in time. Crichton added the extras to reduce the gap to 20. Australia ended with icing on the cake with a clever grubber from DCE finding Staggs to score. Samoa have to regroup and get ready for a physical clash with the Kiwis at Eden Park next Saturday.