England may live to regret firing Samoa up in the closing stages of Sunday’s Test, says pundit Kevin Brown. Shaun Wane’s side cruised to a 34-18 victory in the first game of a two-match series against Samoa at the Brick Community Stadium in Wigan.
Matty Ashton scored a brace on the day, while Herbie Farnworth, George Williams, Victor Radley and Mikey Lewis also touched down for the team in white during an encouraging performance ahead of next week’s second Test at Headingley.
Tempers flared and things threatened to spill over at times, though, particularly at the end of the game as a mass scuffle broke out. Players from both sides could be seen grabbing shirts and pushing their counterparts from the opposing team, but there were no punches thrown or at least none were seen.
As such, referee Liam Moore gave both teams a dressing down but with about a minute to go in the contest, he saw no need to take further action.
However, Brown believes the bad blood from the closing stages of the clash and the result, with Samoa being well beaten, might just provide the motivation the tourists need before heading to West Yorkshire.
“That’s probably the worst thing England could have done, getting under the skin of the Samoans just at the end of the game,” Brown said after the full-time whistle during the BBC’s coverage of the game. “They’ll remember that and bring that into the start of next week I’m sure.”
He added jokingly: “Jamie [Peacock] was saying, ‘can someone just punch someone’.”
Praising England’s performance, though, Brown predicted Samoa could be in for another tough afternoon should George Williams and Harry Smith play as they did in the first Test.
“The second phase and the try they scored just after half-time was sensational,” Brown said when discussing Samoa. “What I would say is the continuity, especially Harry Smith and George Williams, I thought they were sensational as a partnership tonight and if they can take that and get even better next week, there’s a good chance the result will be the same.”