Welsh World Cup team sharpen their mental edge for Samoa

Jamie Roberts of Wales in action against South Africa. The Welsh are hoping for a better result against Samoa. Photo / Getty

Wales v Samoa
Sunday, 3.30pm, Hamilton

The opportunity to wallow in self-pity has been rejected by Wales who quickly realised they will be heading home if they don't get their heads right to play Samoa in the Rugby World Cup on Sunday.

In the most difficult group, Wales have been denied the luxury of considering themselves to be in a round-robin. Their World Cup is one long knockout round and no side has a better record at landing sucker punches than Samoa. Wales know all about the Pacific Island threat and that whatever they achieved against South Africa counts for nothing.

Agonisingly close to a famous win in Wellington that would have changed the entire nature of the tournament, Wales could just as easily be staring at an early exit on Sunday night.

Samoa have always loomed as the real threat to their ambitions.

Defeating South Africa would have been a huge bonus.

The physical onslaught on Sunday will be intense. The Samoans will fancy they can unsettle the Welsh in the collisions, stretch them out wide and send the 110kg Alesana Tuilagi down the wing where he could run over the top of the tiny Shane Williams.

Enterprising, skilled and combative, Wales did so much right in Wellington. But so much does not win games at this World Cup.

Cometh the hour and all that ... and Wales didn't nail it. First, Rhys Priestland hooked a drop goal in front of the posts; then James Hook never really got hold of his 75th-minute penalty. There was a swirling wind but, as coach Warren Gatland said from the team's Taupo base, "Morne Steyn nailed one from the touchline and won them the game. These games are so tight that it comes down to that. You kick your drop goals and convert your penalty opportunities. That's how you win games these days."

Missed opportunities will be just as severely punished by the Samoans. But the Welsh hardly need to be reminded of that, having lost to Samoa at both the 1991 and 1999 World Cups.

Suggestions have arisen that the Welsh can get in front of the Southern Hemisphere giants but lack the conviction to nail the coffin shut.

Gatland was having none of it. "We believed we were good enough to win on Sunday. We were getting accused of talking ourselves up too much. Which one do you want?"