In a sneak preview of their opening match of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, world number nine Samoa kicked off their Pacific Nations Cup campaign on Sunday with a 21-16 win over the US.

Samoa, who dropped to a close 25-16 defeat to top ranked New Zealand earlier this month, jumped out to a 21-3 half-time lead against the Americans then held on for the victory at Avaya Stadium.

The Samoans used just five players from their game against the All Blacks. Captain Alesana Tuilagi scored Samoa’s only try of the game, while outside half Patrick Faapale kicked just enough points to stave off the US’s late rally.

Samoa and the 16th ranked USA open their World Cup quests with a match against each other on September 20 at the Brighton Community Stadium in England.

In the earlier Pacific Nations Cup game, Japan easily defeated Canada 20-6. Japan captain and all-time leading point scorer Ayumu Goromaru booted five penalties and Yoshikazu Fujita had the only try of the game against Canada. Gordon McRorie kicked two penalties to account for all of Canada’s points.

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The tournament had got underway earlier Saturday in Suva, where Fiji came from behind to beat Tonga 30-22 in the only match to be played in the Pacific.

All the remaining matches will be played in North America, with the six sides split into two pools and the top two sides from each group playing for the Cup on August 3 in Vancouver.