Two sides who were both defeated in the first pool round met in Doncaster as Samoa were massive favourites to score a decisive victory over a Greek side who fared well against the French last weekend.

Both coaches shuffled their packs, Samoa looking to put the nightmare of their heavy first round defeat at the hands of England last weekend, while Greece knew that an inaugural World Cup win was a distant hope. Flu had gone through the Greek ranks while Samoa lost a number of players to injury after last weekend.

Samoa were expected to win, it would be a disaster for them if they didn´t put in a convincing performance to go with the two points.

Less that a minutes after the kick-off Brian To´o leapt to take a cross-field kick, grounding by the corner flag with little resistance from the Greek defenders. Stephen Crichton added the conversion, Samoa off and running and already looking very dangerous.

On four minutes Samoa were in again when a Greek body got in the way of a Samoan offload, the ball bouncing into goal and being grounded by Junior Paulo. Crichton again on target for 12-0, the game had all the hallmarks of turning very grisly for Greece as they received the Samoa backlash.

Samoa had three more opportunities in quick succession but great defence from Greece prevented them getting over the whitewash on all three occasions. But on sixteen minutes they were in again after a Luai run to the ten-metre line before flicking a pass to Danny Levi to go in under the posts. Crichton added the conversion for 18-0.

As Greece tired, Samoa turned up the gas and on twenty-two they broke downfield with Chanel Harris-Tavita on hand to step off both feet and go ten metres to score under the sticks. Crichton added a fourth goal as the Greek full-back left the field for treatment.

Samoa were now breaking the Greek line at will, and on thirty minutes Royce Hunt span his way out of three tackles to score from twenty metres, sliding over under the tackle. Crichton added the conversion and Samoa were still registering points at the rate of one per minute.

On thirty-two Jarome Luai found a massive hole in the Greek line to sprint in from forty minutes for the sixth Samoa try of the half. Crichton was again on target for 36-0, Greece exhausted.

Four minutes from the interval and Samoa did have the forty as Tim Lafai adding more pain for Greece, evading some poor attempted tackles to go over unopposed. Crichton made it seven from seven, Samoa with a 42-0 lead. It looked very worrying for Greece in the second half.

Greece kept their line intact for the opening eight minutes of the half and it was they who scored the first try of the second forty after a chip over the top by Billy Migoulias was collected by Jake Kambos and flung inside to Lachlan Ilias to dive over. Ilias was wide with the conversion attempt

On fifty-two a Fa´amanu Brown scoot from dummy half saw the substitute score from fifteen metres out, Crichton added the conversion for 48-4.

A flip pass between the legs from Joseph Suaali´i found Crichton in an ocean of space to lope over down the right-hand side. Crichton missed his first kick of the night hitting the upright.

On fifty-nine Samoa were right back in their groove as Harris-Tavita dotted down a Luai grubber into the goal area. Crichton was back on target with the kick for 58-4.

It was back to a point a minute on sixty-two with Matt Feagai finding plenty of space down the left-hand side to take the pass and cross. Crichton was again off target but it was 62-4 to Samoa as they exercised the ghosts of the opening week.

On sixty-eight Levi took an Oregon Kaufusi pass to fend off a tackler and slide in. Crichton kicked his tenth goal of the game for 68-4, the eighty back on the cards.

Jaydn Su´a was sin-binned on seventy-three for contact to the head, Samoa finishing the game with twelve men.

The final points of the game came from Lafai as Samoa moved the ball from right to left, the centre getting his second of the game. Crichton was wide with the kick, the final score 72-4.

Samoa now appear likely to play Tonga in the quarter finals, a game with the potential to be match of the tournament. Samoa were on fire against a Greek side who gave everything that they had, and then another five percent more. Greece will now bow out of the competition against England, while Samoa will feel that they have got their World Cup back on track, so long as they don´t slip on a French banana skin next week.

Samoa: Suaali´i, To´o (T), Crichton (T, 10G), Lafai (2T), Feagai (T), Luai (T), Harris-Tavita (2T), Papali´i, Levi (2T), Paulo (T), Su´a (SB on 72), Sao, Aloiai. Subs: Brown (T), Hunt (T), Kaufusi, Taupa´u.

Greece: Robinson, Taukamo, Constantinou, Mougios, Mitsias, Magoulias, Ilias (T), Flocas, Mamouzelos, Bastas, Kambos, Vrahnos, Sell. Subs: Bosmos, Gal, Nianiakas, Sue-Tin.

Half-Time: 42-0.

Full-Time: 72-4.

Score Progression: 4-0, 6-0, 10-0, 12-0, 16-0, 18-0, 22-0, 24-0, 26-0, 30-0, 34-0, 36-0, 40-0, 42-0 : HT : 42-4, 46-4, 48-4, 52-4, 56-4, 58-4, 62-4, 66-4, 68-4, (SB), 72-4 : FT .

Lead Exchanges: Samoa.

Referee: James Child.

Attendance: 4,415 at Eco-Power Stadium, Doncaster.