Samoa have achieved their highest-ever win at a Rugby League World Cup as five tries from substitute speedster Sua Fa’alogo helped them to a dominant 78-4 win over France.

Fa’alogo probably wasn’t expecting to feature in this game, but an injury to Deine Mariner in the opening 10 minutes of the game saw the Melbourne Storm star take his chance on the left wing.

Mariner, who scored the game’s opening try, left the action with a hamstring issue in what was a hectic opening quarter for injuries. France saw two players need HIAs, with both Leo Darrelatour and Cesar Rouge needing to go for an assessment.

Rouge was able to return, but Darrelatour failed, meaning a positional switch was needed. Catalans’ Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet moved to the wing with Hull FC man Arthur Romano switching to centre. Those injuries added to what was already a pre-match blow with Julien Bousquet dropping out of the side late.

That injury is what Samoa fully capitalised on, with the Pacific Nation’s attack focusing down that side following repeated success.

Hooker Benaiah Ioleu and back rower Jermaine McEwen both scored in the opening 10 minutes, making for an 18-0 lead. Fa’alogo got his first with his first touch, before Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow added another to make it 28-0. Fa’alogo’s second rounded out Samoa’s first-half scoring, with Aispuro-Bichet adding France’s sole try to make for a 34-4 half-time scoreline.

Stephen Crichton, who kicked 11 from 14 conversions across the evening, added the first try of the second half, before Shawn Blore and two more from Fa’alogo put the game to 54-4, well beyond doubt.

Stand-off Chanel Harris-Tativa scored the first of four tries in the final 10 minutes. He was followed by Izack Tago, Francis Molo and a second for Ioleu.

The 74-point win is the nation’s biggest in World Cup history, with Fa’alogo’s haul just falling just one short of Valentine Holmes’ most tries in a World Cup match record.

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