The Kiwis have opened the Pacific Championships with a gripping 24-18 victory over Toa Samoa at Auckland’s Go Media Stadium.
In a bruising, high-intensity clash that was locked 18-all late in the match, Dylan Brown’s controversial try off a Kieran Foran bomb proved decisive.
Despite Samoa’s spirited performance and strong debuts from Payne Haas and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, crucial handling errors cost them a historic upset.
Casey McLean scored twice for the Kiwis, who maintained their unbeaten record against Samoa and now turn their focus to a showdown with Tonga in two weeks.
