Wales will hope to continue their recent dominance over Samoa when the two sides renew their rivalry at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Friday night.
The hosts have won the last three encounters between the sides with their most recent victory coming at last year's Rugby World Cup where Shane Williams grabbed a crucial second half try to set up a 17-10 victory.
Despite their recent success, the spectre of two of the biggest upsets in World Cup history are still fresh in the memory of many Welsh fans. Wales were felled 16-13 at the 1991 tournament with centre To'o Vaega and flanker Sila Vaifale crossing for crucial tries to set up an historic triumph for what was then Western Samoa.
Lightning struck twice when in 1999 the Samoans produced a thrilling display to beat the hosts 38-34 at the brand new Millennium Stadium. Inspirational skipper Pat Lam notched a superb breakaway try shortly before his retirement but fly-half Stephen Bachop, formerly of the All Blacks, was Wales' main tormentor with two tries.
Wales v South Africa All-time record: Played: 8, Wales won 5, Samoa won 3
Biggest winning margin:: Wal: 44, 50-6 at Millennium Stadium, 2000; Samoa: 25, 34-9 at Moamoa, 1994
Highest score: Wal: 50 (50-6) at Millennium Stadium, 2000; Samoa: 38 (31-38) at Millennium Stadium, 1999
Most tries: Wal: 6 (50-6) at Millennium Stadium, 2000; Samoa: 5 (31-38) at Millennium Stadium, 2000
Longest winning sequence: Wal: 2 (1986-88 and 2000-09); Samoa: 3 (1991-99)
Most points (individual): Wal: Neil Jenkins 25; Samoa: Darren Kellett, 19
Most tries (individual): Wal: 3 Shane Williams; Samoa: 2 Stephen Bachop, Brian Lima and Pat Lam
Most points in a Test: Wal: 20 Arwel Thomas at Millennium Stadium, 2000; Samoa: 19 Darren Kellett at Moamoa, 1994
--espnscrum.com
The hosts have won the last three encounters between the sides with their most recent victory coming at last year's Rugby World Cup where Shane Williams grabbed a crucial second half try to set up a 17-10 victory.
Despite their recent success, the spectre of two of the biggest upsets in World Cup history are still fresh in the memory of many Welsh fans. Wales were felled 16-13 at the 1991 tournament with centre To'o Vaega and flanker Sila Vaifale crossing for crucial tries to set up an historic triumph for what was then Western Samoa.
Lightning struck twice when in 1999 the Samoans produced a thrilling display to beat the hosts 38-34 at the brand new Millennium Stadium. Inspirational skipper Pat Lam notched a superb breakaway try shortly before his retirement but fly-half Stephen Bachop, formerly of the All Blacks, was Wales' main tormentor with two tries.
Wales v South Africa All-time record: Played: 8, Wales won 5, Samoa won 3
Biggest winning margin:: Wal: 44, 50-6 at Millennium Stadium, 2000; Samoa: 25, 34-9 at Moamoa, 1994
Highest score: Wal: 50 (50-6) at Millennium Stadium, 2000; Samoa: 38 (31-38) at Millennium Stadium, 1999
Most tries: Wal: 6 (50-6) at Millennium Stadium, 2000; Samoa: 5 (31-38) at Millennium Stadium, 2000
Longest winning sequence: Wal: 2 (1986-88 and 2000-09); Samoa: 3 (1991-99)
Most points (individual): Wal: Neil Jenkins 25; Samoa: Darren Kellett, 19
Most tries (individual): Wal: 3 Shane Williams; Samoa: 2 Stephen Bachop, Brian Lima and Pat Lam
Most points in a Test: Wal: 20 Arwel Thomas at Millennium Stadium, 2000; Samoa: 19 Darren Kellett at Moamoa, 1994
--espnscrum.com
