Tuilagi hat-trick puts Namibia to the sword

Samoa made a powerful statement of intent in their opening match of Rugby World Cup 2011 by making all the running in a 49-12 victory over Namibia on Wednesday.

Wing Alesana Tuilagi grabbed a hat-trick and scrum half Kahn Fotuali'i recorded the fastest try of the tournament so far as the islanders showcased their attacking capabilities at Rotorua International Stadium.

Full back Paul Williams, who scored Samoa's fifth and final try, said it was a job well done.

"It's a good way to start the tournament," he said immediately after the match. "This is our moment. All hands on deck."

The only negative in Samoa's performance was the injuries incurred ahead of their match against Wales on Sunday. Coach Titimaea Tafua expressed his concern after having to use six of his seven replacements with a quarter of the game remaining.

"The injuries are a big worry," he said. "It's only four days before our second game. That's the most important to us."

Muscle and menace

But for a 10-minute lull early in the second half after they were reduced to 14 men by Williams’ sin-binning, Samoa were all muscle and menace as their forwards linked deftly with their free-running backs.

When Williams returned along with a raft of replacements, they picked up the pace again and stretched the 25-0 half-time lead well beyond the Welwitschias’ reach.

Fotuali'i had got his side’s RWC 2011 campaign off to the brightest of starts when he fielded a poor clearance kick and bullocked his way along the right touchline to dot down in the corner after 49 seconds. Fly half Tusi Pisi converted the difficult kick.

Namibia,who lost 49-25 to Fiji on Saturday, found it hard to cope with the early onslaught by the powerful islanders and went 10-0 down after a Pisi penalty in the 10th minute.

The Welwitschias tried to muscle their way back into the contest, with skipper Jacques Burger leading from the front, but Samoa's backline was always a threat and left wing Tuilagi sprinted over for Samoa's second try after a pass from number 8 George Stowers in the 17th minute.

Pisi converted and was again on target with a penalty before limping off 10 minutes later with a hamstring injury.

Flailing defence

Five minutes before half-time, Tuilagi got his second after a quick tapped penalty by Maurie Fa'asavalu found Stowers again combining well with the three-quarters.

Tuilagi registered his third in the 53rd minute before Williams got in on the act five minutes later by stepping through the flailing Namibians to make it 40-0.

Namibia got on the scoreboard when Danie van Wyk ran in for a try from halfway after a neat kick-and-gather by Llewellyn Winkler.

But after flanker Rohan Kitshoff was sin-binned, they came under increased pressure and referee Romain Poite awarded a penalty try as they illegally stepped in to stifle a pushover by the Samoans.

Namibia fly half Theuns Kotze wrapped up proceedings when he scored and converted a try with two minutes remaining.