Samoa 49 Namibia 12:SAMOA SOUNDED out a World Cup warning to their Pool D rivals yesterday, beating Namibia 49-12 with three ties from powerhouse winger Alesana Tuilagi.
The Pacific Island nation face Wales in Hamilton on Sunday and will be hoping key players can shrug off injury concerns. Samoan coach Titimaea Tafua will be sweating on the fitness of outhalf Tusi Pisi and flanker Taiasina Tuifua after both players exited the game in the first half at Rotorua’s International Stadium.
“That’s a worry for us. The medical people are still working on it – we’ll know more tonight,” he said.
Wales have lost twice to Samoa at previous World Cups (1991, 1999) and Sunday’s match between them could decide which teams progress from the tournament’s toughest pool.
One of the highlights for Samoa was hulking wing Alesana Tuilagi, who scored a hat-trick of tries and came through the game unscathed. The man, known by his team-mates as The Bulldozer, was unstoppable from close to the line.
Samoa signalled their intentions from the start, running the ball out of their own 22 in the first minute and just 60 seconds later scrumhalf Kahn Fotuali’i was over for the first try.
A crowd of 19,500 enjoyed the Pacific Nation’s expansive playing style and while Namibia tried to contribute with some bustling forward work they were let down by costly errors. Samoa captain Mahonri Schwalger said: “I think Wales put on a good fight against the South Africans. This week is going to be different. At the end of the day, the team that wants it more will come out on top.”
SAMOA: Williams, Tagicakibau, G. Pisi, Mapusua, Tuilagi, T Pisi, Fotuali’i, Taulafo, Schwalger, Perenise, Leo, Thompson, Tuifua, Fa’asavalu, Stowers. Replacements: Fuimaono-Sapolu for Mapusua (49 mins), Lavea for T Pisi (27 mins), Poluleuligaga for Fotuali’i (49 mins), Paulo for Schwalger (56 mins), Tekori for Thompson (62 mins), Treviranus for Tuifua (28 mins).
NAMIBIA: Namibia: Botha, Dames, D van Wyk, Van Zyl, Winkler, Kotze, Jantjies, Redelinghuys, Horn, Larson, Koll, Franken, Kitshoff, Burger, Van Lill, Esterhuyse. Replacements: Du Toit for Redelinghuys (58 mins), O’Callerghan for Horn (60 mins), Esterhuyse for Franken (50 mins), Van Neel for Esterhuyse (58 mins). Sin Bin: Kitshoff (65).
Referee: Romain Poite (France).
