Fullback Tanner Vili scored in the last minute of regulation time to give Samoa a 30-27 win over a New Zealand Divisional 15 in Saturday's rugby union match at Pukekohe, south of Auckland.
The match marked a faltering first step towards this year's World Cup by Samoa, which will play eight matches in coming weeks in New Zealand, Australia, Argentina and South Africa.
Samoa led for only a few minutes in a match marred by errors, scoring the first try through center Dale Rasmussen before surrendering the lead and finding themselves 21-8 behind early in the second half. The tourists didn't lead again until Vili's late try and a conversion by Earl Va'a sealed the win.
A lack of match preparation and a heavy injury toll, which forced assistant coach and former All Black Va'aiga Tuigamala to fill a place on the reserves bench, were evident in Samoa's early play.
The Samoans fielded a makeshift lineout, struggled in scrums though they outweighed the divisional side and lacked combination in general play.
But the Samoan side showed spirit and rallied after conceding two tries to trail 18-5 at halftime.
"We didn't do that well in the first half," said No.8 and captain Semo Setiti, one of Samoa's many Scotland-based players. "We didn't get numbers to the rucks and we talked at halftime about having to speed up the game to make it hard for them and easy for us.
"We've got a hard pool in the World Cup and some hard matches to play on this tour so we're looking to play a fast-paced game. That's our strength."
Samoa was heavily penalized, particularly at rucks, by New Zealand referee Gary Wise and Divisional XV fullback Tim Manawatu scored 17 points from five penalties and a conversion.
Three of Samoa's four tries were scored in the second half.
Left wing Don Fanuatanu had a hand in bookend tries by Rasmussen and Vili. He combined with Wellington Hurricanes right wing Lome Fa'atau to create the space which led to Vili's match-winner.
Lock Kitiona Viliamu scored the first Samoan try of the second spell, combining with his second row partner Opeta Palepoi after Manawatu had missed touch. Flanker Maurie Fa'asavalu scored Samoa's other try in a rampaging run down the left-hand touch.
The Divisional 15 scored tries through lock Hayden Triggs, who ran almost 50 meters through brittle defense, and No. 8 Mutu Ngarimu.
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