USA 60-0 SAM: USA reaction (Tafuna, captain Zackary, head coach Sione Fukofuka, Bargell, Maher)

Comments by USA's Player of the Match, Freda Tafuna, captain Kate Zackary, head coach Sione Fukofuka, Cassidy Bargell and Ilona Maher after their 60-0 win against Samoa in their final match in Pool A at York Community Stadium on Saturday.

Mastercard Player of the Match, Freda Tafuna

In reaction to the match and performance

"All glory to God, shout out to the girls, my family and friends back home and thank you to the crowd - you guys are the best!"

On how the team performed needing to score so many points:

"We knew it was going to be a tough match, we know Samoa is a physical team and we knew that the points were a big thing in this tournament, so we tried to put on a show and put as many points on the board as possible."

USA captain, Kate Zackary

On the overall performance:

"We had some really good opportunities, a slow start in those first 20 minutes and a little clunky at times and then we found our way in that middle 40. I think in the last 20 minutes we probably felt the pressure a bit on the scoreline, but on top of that Samoa never gave up. They strung together some amazing plays, some quick tap penalties, which put us under a lot of pressure, and to be fair I thought they were going to get one over. There were mixed feelings because you want them to, they've had a great tournament, but we needed to get that zero points."

On whether they've done enough with the 60-0 win:

"I think it's going to be tight. Australia are going to throw everything at it, the whole kitchen sink. England's put out a great team, Australia has put out a really great team. I'll be cheering for England tonight. 

"At the end of the day we've put our whole hearts on the line and that's all I can ask for. Wherever the chips fall, they'll fall, and we'll pick up the pieces tomorrow."

USA head coach, Sione Fukofuka

On whether they have done enough with a 60-0 win:

"Time will tell. We got 60 on the board, probably left a few more out there. I did want to just acknowledge Samoa, they made it really tough for us and what they've brought to this World Cup has been amazing, really respectful of what they did but for us, we had some opportunities that we didn't quite convert, so hopefully England does us a favour."

On the pressure to score affecting the performance:

"I thought we approached it in the right way and it was nice to see them build. Unfortunately, a couple of errors in the first half gave Samoa possession and they did a great job with it, and held the ball for long periods. When we did get the opportunity to score I was happy with how we did."

On whether they will watch the England-Australia match:

"We rise and fall as a time so we'll watch it together and a first time ever I think, cheering on the England team and hoping for the best."

Cassidy Bargell

On the result:

"We’re obviously not upset with scoring 60 points, but we definitely wanted to get more on the board. There were some things where we could have been more clinical and ruthless and got more points.  We’ve been more clinical in our system before, and in the second half especially we let the game slow down and we didn’t push the score."

On USA rugby’s improvement in recent years:

"We really have started to believe in our system and ourselves to execute really high-level rugby. We've always been known as a physical team, but now you're starting to see us be true rugby players in a system. I think USA Rugby is only going to continue to push forward."

On Samoa:

"We knew that Samoa was going to show a lot of heart. It's so cool to play against a nation that has so much pride like that. That was definitely an opportunity that we are going to cherish."

On the Samoan celebrations at the end of the match:

"They're amazing. Being able to hear them sing and listen to their celebrations, it reminds you about true rugby culture and why we play it. Appreciating the culture is something that brings not only like rugby together, but our team together and helps us understand each other more. You only get these opportunities so often to play in front of 7,000 people and to play against Samoa.

"We wanted to be ruthless in the game and we knew we needed those points and to fight for each other. So the celebration is something I'll never forget at the end with them."

On the plans for watching the England game tonight:

"We'll all be together as a team and watching that game. I'll definitely be willing (England) on."

Ilona Maher

On whether she enjoyed the game:

"It was nice putting 60 points on a team and not letting anything in was really cool."

On whether the result was good for the team:

"It was a positive performance if you look at it from the outside, but we needed more points. Winning by a 60-point margin is amazing but we needed more. I don’t think 60 points is enough. Australia is a very solid team and they will come with fire.

On whether England can do them a favour:

"We’ll be watching it together. Some of my teammates, Sarah Bern, Hannah Botterman and Abbie Ward, [Lark] Atkin-Davies are amazing players, and if there's any team that can do it, England can. So I hope that they pull it out, but even if they don't I wouldn’t be mad. It's on us."

On the tournament:

"It’s been amazing, England [as Rugby World Cup hosts] have really stepped up and done so much for women’s rugby and the opportunity to change it. We still have three more weeks of this! I hope all the girls get to take it to new heights. I hope we'll be there in the quarter final but we’ll see. I’ll be watching all the games and stay on and watch them. It’s too cool to not go to the knockout stage of the World Cup. It’s sold out at the Allianz (for the final) and I want to be a part of that."

On Samoa:

"Big girls make big hits. The passion and the grit they have, you can tell they're hungry just for a score. They just want to put the points on the board so it was really cool to play them."

On inspiring girls in the USA:

"Hopefully, that’s what we’re trying to do! I think winning for America would have been going to the quarter-finals because America loves winners."

On the Samoa celebrations at the end of the game:

"The singing is a special part of the rugby that a lot of other sports don’t get. So for that to be so respected and welcome is really special. We are a sport of many cultures that celebrate these cultures. We celebrate New Zealand and their haka, Fiji does something before the game, so it’s part of rugby and we respect it."