An astonishing opening at the Millenium Stadium saw Samoa score only a minute into the match. Taiasina Tu’ifua made a huge break off the ruck and simple hands found Fa’atoina Autagavaia who went over for the try. Tusi Pisi calmly converted and Wales were already under pressure.
Leigh Halfpenny opened the Welsh account at last after fifteen minutes with his first penalty goal, and added a second almost fifteen minutes after that, but aside from a couple penalties Samoa weren’t giving an inch in defence. The Manu looked in total control and on the way to another score when Pisi threw a poor pass and Ashley Beck intercepted to run 75 metres against the run of play to give Wales an undeserved lead.
Having lost Richard Hibbard with a shoulder knock earlier in the match, the Welsh suffered more injury misfortunate as Dan Biggar came off second best in a ruck and had to be replaced by Rhys Priestland. Lack of discipline from captain Ryan Jones saw Tusi Pisi slot a penalty goal to make it a three point game at the half.
Wales looked a big stronger coming out for the second half, but David Lemi turned the ball over and Kahn Fotuali’i found himself in space. George Pisi was in close support and pulled out a bit of magic to dive over in the corner for a super try. The two teams exchanged penalties before Halfpenny slotted over his fourth of the match to inch Wales back into the lead.
The weight of the Samoan scrum started to take its toll as Gethin Jenkins folded under the pressure of massive replacement James Johnston and Tusi Pisi had no trouble with the penalty, giving the game its fifth lead change in the space of twenty minutes. Aaron Jarvis was the next to fold but Pisi missed the kick. The dropout was claimed by Samoa and quick hands found Lemi out wide, who chipped ahead and Halfpenny slipped to allow Johnny Leota to score a devastating try.
There was no coming back now and Samoa closed out the game for another famous victory against Wales. In truth the Welsh never looked like scoring a try, intercept aside, and the Manu were thoroughly deserving of victory. They won the battle of the breakdown and played constructively, while Wales were content to kick when perhaps the running option was on. Samoa now face France in a tasty encounter in a week’s time, while Wales stare into the void as they host the unforgiving New Zealand All Blacks.
SCORING
01 mins – Fa’atoina Autagavaia try 0-5
02 mins – Tusi Pisi con 0-7
15 mins – Leigh Halfpenny pen 3-7
28 mins – Leigh Halfpenny pen 6-7
32 mins – Ashley Beck try 11-7
33 mins – Leigh Halfpenny con 13-7
40 mins – Tusi Pisi pen 13-10
46 mins – George Pisi try 13-15
50 mins – Leigh Halfpenny pen 16-15
57 mins – Tusi Pisi pen 16-18
60 mins – Leigh Halfpenny pen 19-18
66 mins – Tusi Pisi pen 19-21
77 mins – Johnny Leota try 19-26
WALES
Leigh Halfpenny; Alex Cuthbert, Ashley Beck, Jamie Roberts, George North; Dan Biggar (Rhys Priestland 38), Mike Phillips; Paul James (Gethin Jenkins 61), Richard Hibbard (Ken Owens 17), Aaron Jarvis (Scott Andrews 77); Bradley Davies, Ian Evans (Luke Charteris HT); Ryan Jones (capt.) (Sam Warburton 70), Justin Tipuric, Toby Faletau.
SAMOA
Fa’atoina Autagavaia; Paul Perez, George Pisi, Paul Williams (Johnny Leota 55-69, 75), David Lemi (capt.); Tusi Pisi (Jeremy Su’a 78), Kahn Fotuali’i; Sakaria Taulafo, Ole Avei (Ti’i Paulo 57), Census Johnston (James Johnston 48); Daniel Leo, Filo Paulo (Joe Tekori 60); Ofisa Treviranus (Tivani Foma’i 69), Maurie Fa’asavalu, Taiasina Tu’ifua.
