Welsh head coach Howley demanded a response from his players after losing to Argentina 26-12 last week. David Lemi led the Samoa haka in front of 58,000 fans at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. However, Samoa had clearly a better start in the game. Tuifua with a break in the 1st minute and full-back Autagavala finished it off – 0:7 Samoa. What a start? Wales tried everything to come back and Halfpenny scored a penalty from down the middle in the 15th minute – 3-7 for Samoa. In the 28th minute, Halfpenny shortened Samoa’s lead to 6-7 with another penalty. In the 33rd minute even the lead for Wales. After Samoa charged forward through George Pisi, Tusi Pisi played a wide ball which was intercepted by Beck and he finished the try. First cap for Beck and first try for Wales – 13:7 Wales! However, before half-time, Samoa shortened the lead to 13:10 after a penalty by Pisi.
Wales clearly grew in confidence in the first half. However, the second half started just like the first one. Samoa with a break right in the 45th minute – great footwork by George Pisi in order to avoid a Priestland tackle and a brilliant finish by Samoa – 13:15 Samoa. Halfpenny, however, brought Wales back into the lead just 3 minutes later when he scored a penalty from the halfway-line -16:15 for Wales. Samoa and Wales went back to back and in the 57th minute converted Pisi another penalty for Samoa – 16:18 Samoa. Halfpenny again with a penalty in the 62nd minute after Fa’asavalu put his arms around Owens neck – 19:18 Wales back in the lead. However, from here on Samoa took charge and converted a Pisi penalty in the 66th minute and Leota with the final try of the game. Samoa wins 19:26 against Wales and put further misery on Wales.
Wales lost 5 consecutive games – one of the worst runs since 2010. Howley is under immense pressure and will face New Zealand on November 24th and Australia on December 1st.
Wales: L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues); A Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), A Beck (Ospreys), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), G North (Scarlets); D Biggar (Ospreys), M Phillips (Bayonne); P James (Bath), R Hibbard (Ospreys), A Jarvis (Ospreys), B Davies (Cardiff Blues), I Evans (Ospreys), R Jones (capt), J Tipuric (Ospreys), T Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).
Replacements: R Priestland (Scarlets) for Biggar (38), G Jenkins (Toulon) for James (61), K Owens (Scarlets) for Hibbard (18), S Andrews (Blues) for Jarvis (78), L Charteris (Perpignan) for Evans (41), S Warburton (Blues) for R Jones (71).
Samoa: F Autagavaia (Northland); P Perez (Eastern Province), G Pisi (Northampton), P Williams (Stade Francais), D Lemi (Worcester, captain); T Pisi (Suntory), K Fotuali’i (Ospreys); S Taulafo (Wasps), O Avei (Bordeaux-Begles), C Johnston (Toulouse), D Leo (Perpignan), F Paulo (North Harbour), O Treviranus (London Irish), M Fa’asavalu (Harlequins), T Tuifua (Newcastle).
Replacements: J Leota (Sale) for Williams (56), J Sua (Tasman) for T Pisi (78), T Paulo (Clermont Auvergne) for Avei (58), J Johnston (Harlequins) for C Johnston (49), J Tekori (Castres) for F Paulo (60), T Foma’i (Haweke’s Bay) for Treviranus (70).
