The United States scored 10 unanswered tries as they romped to a 60-0 win over Samoa at the Women’s Rugby World Cup on Saturday, keeping their hopes of advancing to the quarter-finals alive.
Freda Tafuna scored four tries, with two for Hope Rogers and one each for Cassidy Bargell, Erica Coulibaly, Erica Jarrell-Searcy and Olivia Ortiz at the York Community Stadium as the Americans picked up a key bonus point for a Pool A total of eight.
Even a second-half booking for substitute Kristin Bitter could not open the door wide enough for Samoa to get on the scoresheet.
The United States now face an anxious wait to see how Australia fare later on Saturday against favourites England, needing a huge favour from the hosts if they are to compete in the knockout stage next weekend.
England must beat Australia by 76 points and deny the Wallaroos a bonus point when they meet in Brighton (kick-off 1600 GMT) to allow the Americans to take second place in the pool.
If Australia lose and do not get a bonus point, second place will be decided by points difference. The U.S. have a minus two-point difference after their three games while Australia are plus 73 after beating Samoa and then drawing with the Americans in York last week.
Samoa depart the tournament with only three points, a penalty kicked over by Harmony Vatau to rapturous applause against England at Northampton last weekend.
But they came close to their first try of the tournament on several occasions in a spirited second-half performance on Saturday with the York crowd willing them on.
Samoa conceded a total of 225 points in their three games at the tournament in England.