Sunday's match is among the most eagerly anticipated in this tournament, and may well decide which team join world champions South Africa from pool D in the quarter-finals.
But there were warning signs for the Samoans yesterday, and a couple of injury blows. They lost goalkicking first five-eighths Tusi Pisi (hamstring) and flanker Taiasina Tuifua (ribs) early in the match.
Results of a scan on Pisi will be known this afternoon, while Tuifua is expected to be fine.
Samoa were also loose with possession, perhaps encouraged to take risks by the poor standard of their opposition. Samoa conceded 22 turnovers, including a rash of handling errors, and Wales showed against South Africa that they are excellent at retaining possession. Similar mistakes against Wales might leave Samoa with little ball to work with.
Samoa were impressive in many areas though. Their scrum smashed the Namibians to the point they won a late penalty try, and their lineout was dominant. Flanker Maurie Fa'asavalu, a former British rugby league forward, was among the standout ball runners, with inside back Seilala Mapusua.
Halfback Kahn Fotuali'i was superb, particularly in the opening exchanges, and had a try within a minute of the kickoff after collecting a poor clearance from Theuns Kotze and charging through two tacklers in a wonderful tip-toe dance along the right-hand touchline.
No 8 George Stowers was all class in a man-of-the match performance and giant wing Alesana Tuilagi barrelled a couple of defenders aside for one of his three tries.
In what might have been a match highlight, fullback Paul Williams landed a stunning hit on Kotze but did not use enough of his arms for referee Romain Poite's liking and was sin binned. This could certainly be viewed as a harsh call, and perhaps evidence that Pacific Island teams still suffer from the wild man stereotype.
Williams' arm was making a semi- circular motion across Kotze's body, and was not remotely high.
This is the sort of heavy tackling Wales can expect in a match officiated by another northern hemisphere whistler, Irishman Alain Rolland.
The loss of Pisi would be a major blow. He kicked for goal beautifully yesterday, landing four out of four before being forced off in the 25th minute. His replacement, Tasesa Lavea, is a gifted ballplayer but he can be a touch ponderous and static, and Pisi looked very impressive in controlling and inspiring the Samoan effort.
Namibia's best moment was a chip and regather by wing Llewellyn Winkler to set up a Danie van Wyk try which exposed a lack of pace and urgency in the Samoan cover defence.
The Samoans will be buoyed by the victory and four-try bonus point.
Samoa 49 (Alesana Tuilagi 3, Kahn Fotuali'i, Paul Williams, penalty try; Tusi Pisi 2 conversions, 2 penalties, Williams 3 conversions, penalty)
Namibia 12 (Danie Van Wyk, Theuns Kotze tries; Kotze conversion). HT: 25-0.
