Sign up to The Irish Times Archive (1859 - 2008)My Account »

Mon 09 Sep 2007Samoa run out of steamEngland 44 Samoa 22:  In the immediate aftermath of a Test match the ramifications of a performance are occasionally superseded by the result. In that respect England's delight at the final whistle at the Stade Beaujoire in Nantes was justified and understandable.Paul Sackey's try, his second of the match, in the 10th minute of stoppage time guaranteed the English a bonus point and put a gloss on a display that for a large tranche of this encounter offered a more matt sheen. After 73 minutes - using the old money version of timekeeping - there were just four points between the teams, England leading 26-22.