It was supposed to have been a winner-takes-all clash to decide which country claimed the 24th and final berth at the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Instead, Samoa – twice World Cup quarter-finalists – scraped through thanks to a 13-13 draw with Belgium in Dubai on Tuesday night.
"It wasn't all pretty but we managed to get the ticket to the World Cup," Samoa captain Theo McFarland said.