Samoa at the Rugby World Cup

Western Samoa have played in every Rugby World Cup since the 1991 Rugby World Cup. Their omission from the inaugural tournament in 1987 was controversial, as there were no qualifications.

Nation	Number of appearances	First appearance	Most recent appearance	Streak	Best result
Samoa	6	1991	2011	6	Quarter finals, 1991, 1995

By position

1987 Rugby World Cup Not invited
1991 Rugby World Cup Eliminated in quarter finals
1995 Rugby World Cup Eliminated in quarter finals
1999 Rugby World Cup Eliminated in quarter final playoffs
2003 Rugby World Cup Eliminated in pool stages
2007 Rugby World Cup Eliminated in pool stages
2011 Rugby World Cup Eliminated in pool stages

By match

1991 Rugby World Cup

Pool C matches –

Team	Won	Lost	For	Against	Points
Australia	3	0	79	25	9
Western Samoa	2	1	54	34	7
Wales	1	2	32	61	5
Argentina	0	3	38	83	3

1991-10-06

Wales	13–16	Western Samoa
Tries: Emyr, Evans Con: Ring Pen: Ring		Tries: Vaega, Vaifale Con: Vaea Pen: Vaea (2)

Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff
Referee: Patrick Robin

1991-10-09

Australia	9–3	Western Samoa
Pen: Lynagh (3)		Pen: Vaea

Pontypool Park, Pontypool
Referee: Ed Morrison

1991-10-13

Argentina	12–35	Western Samoa
Tries: Teran Con: Arbizu Pen: Laborde, Arbizu		Tries: Tagaola (2), Lima (2), Bunce, Bachop Con: Vaea (4) Pen: Vaea

Sardis Road, Pontypridd
Referee: Brian Anderson

Quarter finals –

Quarter-finals		Semi-finals		Final

19 October – Murrayfield, Edinburgh

Scotland	28
		26 October – Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Western Samoa	6
		Scotland	6
19 October – Parc des Princes, Paris
		England	9
France	10
				2 November – Twickenham, London
England	19
				England	6
20 October – Stadium Lille-Metropole, Villeneuve d'Ascq
				Australia	12
New Zealand	29
		27 October – Lansdowne Road, Dublin
Canada	13
		New Zealand	6
20 October – Lansdowne Road, Dublin
		Australia	16	Third place
Australia	19
				30 October – Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff
Ireland	18
				Scotland	6

				New Zealand	13

1991-10-19

Scotland	28–6	Western Samoa
Tries: Jeffrey (2), Stanger Con: Hastings (2) Pen: Hastings (4)		Pen: Vaea Drop goals: Bachop

Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Referee: Derek Bevan

1995 Rugby World Cup

Pool B games –

Team	Won	Lost	For	Against	Points
England	3	0	95	60	9
Western Samoa	2	1	96	88	7
Italy	1	2	69	94	5
Argentina	0	3	69	87	3

1995-05-27

Italy	18–42	Western Samoa
Tries: Paolo Vaccari, Massimo Cuttitta Con: Diego Dominguez Pen: Diego Dominguez Drop: Diego Dominguez		Tries: Brian Lima (2), George Harder (2), Darren Kellet, Shem Tatupu Con: Darren Kellet (3) Pen: Darren Kellet (2)

Basil Kenyon Stadium, East London
Attendance: 11 000
Referee: Joel Dume

1995-05-30

Western Samoa	32–26	Argentina
Tries: Pat Lam, George Leaupepe, George Harder Con: Darren Kellet Pen: Darren Kellet (5)		Tries: Penalty try, Rodrigo Crexwell Con: José Cilley (2) Pen: José Cilley (4)

Basil Kenyon Stadium, East London
Attendance: 11 000
Referee: David Bishop

1995-06-04

England	44–22	Western Samoa
Tries: Rory Underwood (2), Neil Back Con: Jon Callard Pen: Jon Callard Drop: Mike Catt		Tries: Fata Sini (2), Mike Umaga Con: Tupo Fa'amasino (2) Pen: Tupo Fa'amasino

Kings Park Stadium, Durban
Attendance: 20 000
Referee: Patrick Robin

Quarter finals –

Quarter-finals		Semi-finals		Final

10 June – Ellis Park, Johannesburg

South Africa	42
		17 June – Kings Park Stadium, Durban
Western Samoa	14
		South Africa	19
10 June – Kings Park Stadium, Durban
		France	15
France	36
				24 June – Ellis Park, Johannesburg (a.e.t.)
Ireland	12
				South Africa	15
11 June – Newlands, Cape Town
				New Zealand	12
England	25
		18 June – Newlands, Cape Town
Australia	22
		England	29
11 June – Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
		New Zealand	45	Third place
New Zealand	48
				22 June – Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Scotland	30
				France	19

				England	9

1995-06-10

South Africa	42–14	Western Samoa
Tries: Chester Williams (4), Chris Rossouw, Mark Andrews Con: Gavin Johnson (3) Pen: Gavin Johnson (2)		Tries: Shem Tatupu, Toetu Nu'uali'itia Con: Tupo Fa'amasin (2)

Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Attendance: 52 000
Referee: Jim Fleming

1999 Rugby World Cup

Pool 4 games –

Team	Won	Lost	For	Against	Points
Wales	2	1	118	71	4
Samoa	2	1	97	72	4
Argentina	2	1	83	51	4
Japan	0	3	36	140	0

1999-10-03

Samoa	43–9	Japan
Tries: Brian Lima (2), Afato So'oalo (2), Silao Leaegailesolo Con: Silao Leaegailesolo (3) Pen: Silao Leaegailesolo (4)		Pen: Keiji Hirose (3)

Racecourse Ground, Wrexham
Referee: Andrew Cole

1999-10-10

Argentina	32–16	Samoa
Tries: Alejandro Allub Pen: Gonzalo Quesada (8) Drop: Gonzalo Quesada		Tries: Peter Paramore Con: Silao Leaegailesolo Pen: Silao Leaegailesolo (3)

Stradey Park, Llanelli
Referee: Wayne Erickson

1999-10-14

Wales	31–38	Samoa
Tries: Gareth Thomas, Penalty try (2) Con: Neil Jenkins (2) Pen: Neil Jenkins (4)		Tries: Stephen Bachop (2), Filiga Falaniko, Pat Lam, Silao Leaegailesolo Con: Silao Leaegailesolo Pen: Silao Leaegailesolo

Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Ed Morrison

Quarter final playoffs –

Quarter-final play-offs			Quarter-finals			Semi-finals			Final

				South Africa	44

				England	21
	England	45

	Fiji	24
							South Africa	21

							Australia	27



				Australia	24

				Wales	9



										Australia	35

										France	12



				New Zealand	30

				Scotland	18
	Scotland	35

	Samoa	20
							New Zealand	31

							France	43



				France	47

				Argentina	26
	Argentina	28

	Ireland	24

1999-10-20

Scotland	35–20	Samoa
Tries: Cameron Murray, Martin Leslie Con: Kenny Logan Pen: Kenny Logan (5) Drop:Gregor Townsend		Tries: Brian Lima, Semo Sititi Con: Silao Leaegailesolo (2) Pen: Silao Leaegailesolo (2)

Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Attendance: 67,000
Referee: David McHugh

2003 Rugby World Cup

Group C matches –

Team	Won	Lost	For	Against	BP	Points
England	4	0	255	47	3	19
South Africa	3	1	184	60	3	15
Samoa	2	2	138	117	2	10
Uruguay	1	3	56	255	0	4
Georgia	0	4	46	200	0	0

2003-10-15

Samoa	60–13	Uruguay
Tries: Fa'asavalu (2), Lima (2), Tagicakibau, Fa'atau, Lemalu, Vili, Feaunati, Palepoi Con: Va'a (3), Vili (2)		Tries: Capo, Lemoine Pen: Aguirre

Subiaco Oval, Perth
Attendance: 22,020
Referee: David McHugh

2003-10-19

Georgia	9–46	Samoa
Pen: Jimsheladze (2) Drop: Jimsheladze		Tries: Tagicakibau, Vaa'a, Sititi, So'oialo, Feaunati, Lima Con: Va'a (5) Pen: Va'a (2)

Subiaco Oval, Perth
Attendance: 21,507
Referee: Alain Rolland

2003-10-26

England	35–22	Samoa
Tries: Back, Penalty try, Balshaw, Vickery Con: Wilkinson (3) Pen: Wilkinson (2) Drop: Wilkinson		Tries: Sititi Con: Va'a Pen: Va'a (5)

Telstra Dome, Melbourne
Attendance: 50,647
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan

2003-11-01

South Africa	60–10	Samoa
Tries: van Niekerk, Muller, Hougaard, Smith, Willemse, Fourie, van der Westhuyzen, de Kock Con: Hougaard (5), Koen (2) Pen: Hougaard Drop: Hougaard		Tries: Palepoi Con: Va'a Pen: Va'a

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Attendance: 48,496
Referee: Chris White

2007 Rugby World Cup

Pool A matches –

Team	Pld	W	L	TF	PF	PA	+/-	BP	Pts
South Africa	4	4	0	24	189	47	+142	3	19
England	4	3	1	11	108	88	+20	2	14
Tonga	4	2	2	9	89	96	−7	1	9
Samoa	4	1	3	5	69	143	−74	1	5
United States	4	0	4	7	61	142	−81	1	1

	ENG	SAM	RSA	TGA	USA
England	–	44 – 22	0 – 36	36 – 20	28 – 10
Samoa	–	–	7 – 59	15 – 19	25 – 21
South Africa	–	–	–	30 – 25	64 – 15
Tonga	–	–	–	–	25 – 15
United States	–	–	–	–	–

2011 Rugby World Cup

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	L	PF	PA	PD	T	B	Pts	Qualification
1	South Africa	4	4	0	166	24	+142	21	2	18	Advanced to the quarter-finals and qualified for the 2015 Rugby World Cup
2	Wales	4	3	1	180	34	+146	23	3	15
3	Samoa	4	2	2	91	49	+42	9	2	10	Eliminated but qualified for 2015 Rugby World Cup
4	Fiji	4	1	3	59	167	−108	7	1	5
5	Namibia	4	0	4	44	266	−222	5	0	0

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

Pool D matches

14 September 2011
14:30

Samoa	49 – 12	Namibia
Try: Fotuali'i 1' c Tuilagi (3) 17' c, 35' m, 55' c Williams 59' c Penalty try 70' c Con: T. Pisi (2/2) Williams (2/3) Pen: T. Pisi (2/2) 10', 24' Williams (1/1) 53'	Report	Try: van Wyk 63' m Kotzé 79' c Con: Kotzé (1/2)

Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua
Attendance: 12,752
Referee: Romain Poite (France)


Samoa
FB	15	Paul Williams	40' to 50'
RW	14	Sailosi Tagicakibau
OC	13	George Pisi
IC	12	Seilala Mapusua		50'
LW	11	Alesana Tuilagi
FH	10	Tusi Pisi		28'
SH	9	Kahn Fotuali'i		50'
N8	8	George Stowers
OF	7	Maurie Faasavalu
BF	6	Taiasina Tuifua		29'
RL	5	Kane Thompson		62'
LL	4	Daniel Leo
TP	3	Anthony Perenise		53'
HK	2	Mahonri Schwalger (c)		57'
LP	1	Sakaria Taulafo
Replacements:
HK	16	Ti'i Paulo		57'
PR	17	Census Johnston		53'
LK	18	Joe Tekori		62'
FL	19	Ofisa Treviranus		29'
SH	20	Junior Poluleuligaga		50'
CE	21	Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu		50'
FH	22	Tasesa Lavea		28'
Coach:
Fuimaono Tafua


Namibia
FB	15	Chrysander Botha
RW	14	Danie Dames
OC	13	Danie van Wyk		51' to 56'
IC	12	Piet Van Zyl
LW	11	Llewellyn Winkler
FH	10	Theuns Kotzé
SH	9	Eugene Jantjies
N8	8	PJ van Lill		67'
OF	7	Jacques Burger (c)
BF	6	Rohan Kitshoff	66' to 78'
RL	5	Henk Franken		50'
LL	4	Heinz Koll
TP	3	Raoul Larson		75'
HK	2	Hugo Horn		60'
LP	1	Johnny Redelinghuys		60'	75'
Replacements:
HK	16	Bertus O'Callaghan		60'
PR	17	Jané du Toit		60'
N8	18	Nico Esterhuyse		50'	56' to 67'
FL	19	Renaud van Neel		56'
SH	20	Ryan de la Harpe
CE	21	Darryl de la Harpe		51'	56'
WG	22	TC Losper
Coach:
Johan Diergaardt

Man of the Match:
George Stowers (Samoa)

Touch judges:
Wayne Barnes (England)
Jérôme Garces (France)
Television match official:
Graham Hughes (England)

18 September 2011
15:30

Wales	17 – 10	Samoa
Try: Williams 67' m Pen: Hook (2/3) 12', 27' Priestland (2/2) 43', 66'	Report	Try: Perenise 40+' c Con: Williams (1/1) Pen: Williams (1/3) 21'

Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Attendance: 30,804
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)


Wales
FB	15	James Hook	41'
RW	14	George North
OC	13	Jonathan Davies
IC	12	Jamie Roberts
LW	11	Shane Williams
FH	10	Rhys Priestland
SH	9	Mike Phillips
N8	8	Taulupe Faletau
OF	7	Sam Warburton (c)
BF	6	Danny Lydiate	10'
RL	5	Alun Wyn Jones	69'
LL	4	Luke Charteris
TP	3	Adam Jones
HK	2	Huw Bennett	63'
LP	1	Paul James	63'
Replacements:
HK	16	Lloyd Burns	63'
PR	17	Gethin Jenkins	63'
LK	18	Bradley Davies	69'
FL	19	Andy Powell	10'
SH	20	Tavis Knoyle
SH	21	Scott Williams
CR	22	Leigh Halfpenny	41'
Coach:
Warren Gatland


Samoa
FB	15	Paul Williams
RW	14	Sailosi Tagicakibau	56'
OC	13	George Pisi
IC	12	Seilala Mapusua	70'
LW	11	Alesana Tuilagi
FH	10	Tasesa Lavea	69'
SH	9	Kahn Fotuali'i
N8	8	George Stowers
OF	7	Maurie Fa'asavalu
BF	6	Ofisa Treviranus	77'
RL	5	Kane Thompson
LL	4	Daniel Leo	69'
TP	3	Anthony Perenise	70'
HK	2	Mahonri Schwalger (c)	73'
LP	1	Sakaria Taulafo
Replacements:
HK	16	Ti'i Paulo	73'
PR	17	Census Johnston	70'
FL	18	Joe Tekori	69'
N8	19	Manaia Salavea	77'
SH	20	Jeremy Su'a	69'
FH	21	Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu	70'
CR	22	James So'oialo	56'
Coach:
Fuimaono Tafua

Man of the Match:
Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)

Touch judges:
Romain Poite (France)
Jérôme Garces (France)
Television match official:
Giulio De Santis (Italy)

25 September 2011
15:30

Fiji	7 – 27	Samoa
Try: Talei 67' c Con: Luveniyali (1/1)	Report	Try: Fotuali'i 62' m Stowers 70' c Con: Williams (1/1) Pen: Pisi (4/6) 6', 10', 27', 45' Drop: Pisi (1/2) 12'

Eden Park, Auckland
Attendance: 60,327
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)


Fiji
FB	15	Kini Murimurivalu
RW	14	Vereniki Goneva
OC	13	Gabiriele Lovobalavu
IC	12	Seremaia Bai	64'
LW	11	Napolioni Nalaga
FH	10	Nicky Little	58'
SH	9	Nemia Kenatale	61'
N8	8	Sisa Koyamaibole
OF	7	Malakai Ravulo	56'
BF	6	Netani Talei
RL	5	Leone Nakarawa
LL	4	Sekonaia Kalou	65'
TP	3	Deacon Manu (c)	68'
HK	2	Sunia Koto
LP	1	Campese Ma'afu
Replacements:
HK	16	Talemaitoga Dautu Tuapati	75'
PR	17	Setefano Somoca	68'
LK	18	Rupeni Nasiga	65'
FL	19	Akapusi Qera	56'
SH	20	Vitori Buatava	61'
CE	21	Albert VuliVuli	64'
FB	22	Waisea Luveniyali	58'	75'
Coach:
Sam Domoni


Samoa
FB	15	Paul Williams
RW	14	Sailosi Tagicakibau
OC	13	George Pisi	53'
IC	12	Seilala Mapusua
LW	11	Alesana Tuilagi
FH	10	Tusi Pisi	64'
SH	9	Kahn Fotuali'i
N8	8	George Stowers
OF	7	Maurie Fa'asavalu	40'
BF	6	Taiasina Tuifua
RL	5	Kane Thompson	63'
LL	4	Daniel Leo
TP	3	Census Johnston	53'	71'
HK	2	Mahonri Schwalger (c)	66'	75'
LP	1	Sakaria Taulafo	71'
Replacements:
HK	16	Ti'i Paulo	66'	75'
PR	17	Anthony Perenise	53'
LK	18	Filipo Levi	63'
N8	19	Manaia Salavea	40'
SH	20	Jeremy Su'a	64'
FH	21	Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu	53'
CR	22	James So'oialo
Coach:
Fuimaono Tafua

Man of the Match:
Paul Williams (Samoa)

Touch judges:
George Clancy (Ireland)
Stuart Terheege (England)
Television match official:
Graham Hughes (England)

30 September 2011
20:30

South Africa	13 – 5	Samoa
Try: Habana 9' c Con: M. Steyn (1/1) Pen: F. Steyn (1/3) 25' M. Steyn (1/2) 27' Drop: M. Steyn (0/1)	Report	Try: Stowers 51' m Con: T. Pisi (0/1)

North Harbour Stadium, Auckland
Attendance: 29,734
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)


South Africa
FB	15	Patrick Lambie
RW	14	JP Pietersen
OC	13	Jaque Fourie
IC	12	François Steyn
LW	11	Bryan Habana		47'
FH	10	Morné Steyn
SH	9	Fourie du Preez
N8	8	Pierre Spies		62'
OF	7	Schalk Burger
BF	6	Heinrich Brüssow
RL	5	Victor Matfield (c)
LL	4	Danie Rossouw	51' to 56'	74'
TP	3	Jannie du Plessis
HK	2	Bismarck du Plessis		69' 74'
LP	1	Tendai Mtawarira		62'
Replacements:
HK	16	John Smit	71' to 81'	69'
PR	17	Gurthrö Steenkamp		62'
PR	18	CJ van der Linde
N8	19	Willem Alberts		51' 56' 62'
LK	20	Francois Louw
SH	21	Francois Hougaard		47' 50'
CR	22	Jean De Villiers		51'
Coach:
Peter de Villiers


Samoa
FB	15	Paul Williams	70'
RW	14	David Lemi
OC	13	Seilala Mapusua
IC	12	Eliota Fuimaono Sapolu
LW	11	Alesana Tuilagi
FH	10	Tusi Pisi
SH	9	Kahn Fotuali'i
N8	8	George Stowers
OF	7	Maurie Fa'asavalu
BF	6	Taiasina Tuifua		74'
RL	5	Kane Thompson
LL	4	Daniel Leo		60'
TP	3	Census Johnston		61'
HK	2	Mahonri Schwalger (c)		78'
LP	1	Sakaria Taulafo		78'
Replacements:
HK	16	Ole Avei		78'
PR	17	Anthony Perenise		60'
PR	18	Logovi'i Mulipola		78'
LK	19	Joe Tekori		61'
FL	20	Ofisa Treviranus		74'
SH	21	Junior Poluleuligaga
CR	22	George Pisi
Coach:
Fuimaono Tafua

Man of the Match:
Schalk Burger (South Africa)

Touch judges:
Wayne Barnes (England)
Stuart Terheege (England)
Television match official:
Graham Hughes (England)

Hosting

So far Western Samoa has not hosted any World Cup games, and has not put in bids for future tournaments. Due to the lack of facilities, and the small size of the island nation, it is unlikely it will do so in the future.

Portrayal on screen

Samoa can be seen playing South Africa in the feature film Invictus based on the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

References

Davies, Gerald (2004) The History of the Rugby World Cup (Sanctuary Publishing Ltd, (ISBN 1860746020)
Farr-Jones, Nick, (2003). Story of the Rugby World Cup, Australian Post Corporation, (ISBN 0-642-36811-2)

Related Websites

v t e National team appearances in the Rugby World Cup by tier
Tier 1 teams	Argentina Australia England France Ireland Italy Japan New Zealand Scotland South Africa Wales
Tier 2 teams	Canada Chile Fiji Georgia Namibia Portugal Romania Russia Samoa Spain Tonga United States Uruguay
Tier 3 teams	Ivory Coast Zimbabwe