2011 Rugby World Cup Preview: Wales Vs Samoa
Out of all the 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC) matches to be played during the upcoming weekend, no match can equal the excitement the Wales and Samoa encounter presents to the audience and to the fans of the game throughout the world. Wales, with their impressive
performance in their 2011 RWC opener against the Springboks in which they almost derailed the defending champions from their title throne, will take on the Pacific Islanders, who have caused Wales more damage than any other team in the tournament’s history.
Wales will take on the Samoa at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton on Sunday, September 18.
Following their exceptional performance against the Boks, Wales will start the match as the favourites. However, they will be cautious of the fact that they are facing an opposition, which historically has caused turmoil in Wales RWC campaigns. Additionally,
Samoa twice has handed over RWC upsets after they defeated Wales in two different RWC events.
Samoa defeated Wales 16-13 at Cardiff Arms Park during the 1991 RWC tournament. The second time they defeated Wales 38-34 at Millennium Stadium during the 1999 RWC. In their last encounter in 2009, Wales eventually came through with a 17 – 13 win at Cardiff,
after Samoa remained in the driving seat for most of the match.
Wales will enter the match with additional pressure, as they are in a must win situation to keep their tournament hopes alive. If the Samoans’ are able to pull off another victory this will definitely be the biggest upset of the 2011 RWC until now.
Keeping in view the importance of the match and the danger Samoan posses, Wales head coach, Warren Gatland, has announced unchanged side for their weekend encounter. Speaking on the move, he said, “It’s a message of confidence in terms of the way we performed
last week. We’ve got everyone fit and hopefully we can build on last week.”
Sunday’s encounter will test Wales’ make-up as Samoa’s line-up includes players that can wreak havoc with Wales' game plan. Samoa will be relying heavily on their left-winger, Alesana Tuilagi, particularly after his exceptional performance in their opening
game.
However, Samoa is still waiting on the availability of their star fly half Tusi Pisi. He is yet to fully recover from a hamstring injury, which he sustained in Samoa’s opening game against Namibia last weekend. The final decision regarding his selection
is to be taken on Saturday, September 17.
The match day squads of both teams are given below:
WALES
Starting XV: J Hook (Perpigan), G North (Scarlets), J Davies (Scarlets), J Roberts (Cardiff), S Williams (Ospreys), R Priestland (Scarlets), M Phillips (Bayonne), P James (Ospreys), H Bennett (Ospreys), A Jones (Ospreys), L Charteris (Dragons), A-W Jones
(Ospreys), D Lydiate (Dragons), S Warburton (Cardiff, capt), T Faletau (Dragons)
Replacements: L Burns (Dragons), R Bevington (Ospreys), B Davies (Cardiff), A Powell (Sale), T Knoyle (Scarlets), S Williams (Scarlets), L Halfpenny (Cardiff).
SAMOA
Starting XV: P Williams (Stade Francais), S Tagicakibau (London Irish), G Pisi (Clermont), S Mapusua (Black Rams), A Tuilagi (Leicester), T Pisi (Clermont), K Fotuali’i (Hawke’s Bay), S Taulafo (Wasps), M Schwalger (Taranakii, capt), A Perenise (Bath), D
Leo (Begles-Bodeaux), K Thompson (Wests), O Treviranus (Malie), M Faasavalu (Harlequins), G Stowers (Ospreys).
Replacements: T Paulo (Clermont), C Johnston (Toulouse), J Tekori (Castres), T Tuifua (Pukekohe), J Sua (West Harobur), E Fuimaono-Sapolu (Gloucester), T Lavea (Clermont)
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