Namibia stunned by Samoan start

Samoa opened their World Cup account with an emphatic 49-12 win over Namibia thanks to their hulking winger Alesana Tuilagi.

Towering over his opponent at 194cm and 111kgs Tuilagi was too big and too strong scoring three tries in his team's win.

More than 12,700 spectators were watched Samoa beat Namibia in near perfect conditions at the Rotorua International Stadium today.

The electric atmosphere from the audience transposed onto the field right from the start with the Samoan scoring 39 seconds into the match after Chrysander Botha failed to kick the ball out and Samoan half back  Kahn Fotuali'I  catching the ball 40m inside Namibia's half beating a weak tackle from Botha to run  all the way to the right hand corner and Tusi Pisi converting the goal.

Namibia were stunned by the Samoan start and struggled to get any quality ball for the first 10 minutes of the match despite looking strong at scrum time and although their lose forwards worked hard at the contact, Rohan Kitshoff was penalised for an infringement giving Pisi an easy 32m penalty.

The African side had one promising chance 12 minutes into the half when Eugene Jantjies found some space at the lineout 30m from Samoa's try line. They rumbled it up five phases but knocked it on 5m out and for Samoa to kick it 45m down field.

Danger signs for Namibia came when Samoa took a quick lineout inside their own half and ran it through their backline for Tuilagi to have some space on the outside but some brave defence by Danie Dames managed to drive the big winger out of touch but it was in vain because Namibia turned the ball over  in the line out and Samoa ran it to the right then back to the left for Tuilagi to have space again and to score from a 30m run and Pisi to convert to go 17-0 up 15 minutes into the half.

Samoa kept Namibia under the pump from the kick off and at the 20 minute mark Namibia found themselves penalised at the scrum and Pisi kicking another penalty this time 38m out form the post.

Samoa played smart rugby using a tail wind to find field position and put Namibia under pressure again but with 20 points up and 25 minutes on the clock Pisi was taken from the field with what appeared to be a hamstring injury after making a 30m break and lose forward Taiasina Tu'ifua with a rib cage injury from the pursuing ruck.

The injuries seemed to upset Samoa's rhythm for a few minutes until Tuilagi got the ball and ran 18m dragging three defenders with him to score his second try, however fullback Paul Williams was unable to convert the try.

Samoa went a man down when Williams was sin binned for a shoulder charge on Theuns Kotze just before the break and with the score at 25-0.

With the wind behind their backs Namibia needed to score first after the break - lead by captain Jacques Burger they put the pressure on Samoa but his team kept turning the ball over at crucial times and inside their own half. However Samoa were equally guilty making silly little mistakes and keeping Namibia in the game.

The first points of the second half came in the 51^st minute after Namibia were penalised in front of the post for an illegal bind in the scrum, Williams who at only just returned from the sin bin to slotted it over.

Tulagi got his hat-trick and Samoa's bonus point try in the 55^th minute when Namibia failed to find touch and Samoa simply drew and passed and found the big winger going under the post untouched and for Williams to convert.

Williams scored Samoa's fifth try after a 30m break from open side flanker Maurie Fa'asavalu. The fullback simply stepped inside a weak tackle one out from the ruck and ran 5m to score under the post.

Namibia's spirits were lifted in the 60^th minute after a brilliant turnover by Buger in the ruck it was passed out to Lllewellyn Winkler who chipped through re-gathered passed to Danie Van Wyk who ran 30m to score.

Namibia's chances were made even more difficult when loose forward Rohan Kitshoff was sin-binned for a professional foul. This fired up the Samoan forwards who opted for three scrums in a row which resulted in a penalty try.

To Namibia's credit they never gave up thanks to their hard working captain and centre Van Wyk who looked dangerous whenever he got his hands on the ball. Their efforts were rewarded in the dying minute when Theuns Kotze broke Samoa's line stretching out and scoring under the post and he was successful with the conversion, to end the match 49-12.

Scorers:

Samoa: (Kahn Fotuali'I 3, Alesana Tuilagi, penalty try 1 tries; Tusi Pisi 2 con, 2 pen, Paul Williams 3 con, 1 pen,) Namibia ( Danie Van Wyk, Theuns Kotze tries; Theuns Kotze 1 con) Halftime: