STUART BARROW stated his England squad were struggling but together after a 24-6 defeat to Samoa brought their World Cup journey to an end.
Freedom Crichton Ropati was the difference between the two teams in the first half, with the winger bagging a hat-trick down the right side.
Following the restart, Mercedez Taulelei-Siala and Fanua Rimoni also added their names to the scoresheet, either side of an Evie Cousins consolation, to book Samoa’s place in the semi-finals.
Reflecting on the loss and the tournament as a whole, Barrow said: “It’s tough at the moment because nobody wants to go home tomorrow, and there was a genuine belief that we might be in the semi-final in Newcastle next week – I could feel it in the group.
“We did all the prep and thought if we got it right then there’d be a chance. Obviously they’re really despondent in there, but they also know they’ve had a pretty unique experience.
“There’s a lot of tears, but there’s also a lot of togetherness; it hasn’t split them and they’re getting around each other, so it’s positive for the future.”
Samoa head coach Frank Pritchard is pleased with the journey his side have been on as they prepare to take on the Kiwi Ferns.
“We’ve got a young team, and for them it’s about enjoying the moment and taking it all in,’ he said.
“We’ve spoken about our pride in the jersey – identity and culture is a massive thing for us.
“We’re going to take it all in, and enjoy the moment with our team.
“The theme this week is togetherness, and moving forward together during the tough times is what it’s all about. Sometimes you’ve got to go through the mud to get to the other side, and we’ve done that.”
