Rugby: Samoa can't get carried away

WREXHAM - Manu Samoa were so impressive in demolishing Japan at Wrexham yesterday that it is hard to avoid pondering whether they might now be a major threat to the favourites in their pool, Wales.

While happy with the way Samoa outscored Japan five tries to none, coach Bryan Williams was quick to curb any speculation that Samoa might now have Wales in their sights for a possible repeat of their historic 1991 triumph in Cardiff.

Rather than a showdown with Wales in 10 days, Williams, who saw yesterday's result as an ideal 49th birthday present, preferred to concentrate on Samoa's next pool match, against Argentina at Llanelli on Sunday.

Samoa showed that they have backs as good as any in the world, with wingers Brian Lima and Afato So'oalo scoring two tries each, second five-eighths Va'aiga Tuigamala a powerhouse in pounding the midfield defences and fullback Silao Leaega contributing 23 points.

The big question, however, is over the Samoan pack and whether, despite a good showing against Japan, the front five can compete against the Alex Wyllie-drilled Argentine forwards.

That was something already prominent in Williams' battle plan.

"We can't look more than one game ahead," he said.

"I'm sure my old mate Grizz Wyllie is going to have them spitting tacks. They got very close to Wales the other day and they know if they can get past us they've got a good chance of making the playoffs.

"We're pretty relieved to get past Japan after they beat us in the Pacific Rim tournament."

Samoa may also have a problem, with prop Brendan Reidy likely to face the judicial process after being given a yellow card for a punching indiscretion which led to Australian referee Andrew Cole cancelling a try he had awarded to No 8 and captain Pat Lam.

Lam later said he would have been greatly upset if something like that had cost Samoa the match.

As it was, it was academic, with Samoa well on top at that stage in the second spell and assured of victory.

Tuigamala also injured a shoulder late in the second spell and wore a sling immediately after the match.

Samoa's medical staff were confident it was only bruising and did not believe the injury was a concern.

Playing first with a strong wind advantage and in difficult, cold, showery conditions, Samoa led 18-6 at halftime.

Both sides conceded several penalties in the opening quarter, particularly in the lineouts, where there appeared to be confusion over the lifting requirement, and consequently Samoa were late in developing momentum.

But Lima capitalised on a charge by Lam from a tap-kicked penalty for the first try and first five-eighths Stephen Bachop placed a fine crosskick from which So'oalo forced the error which led to a try to Leaega.

In the second spell Leaega kicked a crucial early penalty into the wind and with a 15-point buffer Samoa's superiority became more pronounced.

Tuigamala was the catalyst in a smart ploy which created So'oalo's first try and he and Lima clinched their doubles as Japan wilted in the final quarter.

The other feature of the Samoan performance was their defence and their fierce and uncompromising tackling which frustrated Japan.

Japan's only points came from the boot of first five-eighths Keiji Hirose.

They had some snappy runners in wings Daisuke Ohata and Terunori Masuho but not even the experience of former All Blacks halfback Graeme Bachop could overcome a high error-rate in the backline.

The side's other former All Black, Jamie Joseph at No 8, came closest to cracking the Samoan tryline but he, too, was invariably engulfed by the Samoan defensive wall.