Samoa are in the box seat to survive the “group of death” at the World Cup Nines after they flogged Fiji 32-17 and watched Tonga fall by the wayside.

Drawn in the toughest group of the tournament with just one team set to advance, Samoa impressed alongside giant killers the Cook Islands, Fiji and Tonga on Friday night.

Winger Brian To’o scored a double against Fiji, while Penrith teammates Jerome Luai and Moses Leota also crossed in the upset win.

Fiji – who were considered one of the dark horses for the tournament – looked out of sorts at Bankwest Stadium.

They failed to make the most of the NRL’s leading try-scorer Maika Sivo on the left wing, waiting until the final minute to get the ball in his hands.

And when they did, he scored instantly by sprinting 70-metres down the touchline.

The result puts both Fiji and Tonga in a precarious position headed into Saturday.

The star-studded Tonga were earlier shocked 30-7 by the Cook Islands despite boasting significantly greater NRL experience.

It means the crowd favourites must win both their games on Saturday by large margins and hope other results go in their favour if they are to reach the finals.

Lebanon set aside the drama of their NRL stars boycotting the event to upset France 12-8 in the tournament’s opening game, a result highlighted by Western Suburbs reserve grader Bilal Maarbani’s double.

England also flogged Wales 25-4 in their first match, with former New Zealand Warrior Sam Tomkins and incoming Canberra halfback George Williams starring.