Tuilagi does the trick as Samoa slam Namibians

Samoa warmed up for their World Cup clash against Wales with a crushing Pool D victory in Rotorua – but it came at a price.

Leicester wing Alesana Tuilagi starred with a hat-trick of tries as Namibia predictably failed to counteract the trademark pace and power of the South Sea Islanders. But there was plenty of concern for the Samoan camp when they saw fly-half Tusi Pisi and flanker Taiasina Tuifu’a go off injured in quick succession.

Goalkicker Pisi had already booted two conversions and two penalties before departing with a hamstring injury, while Tuifu’a was left nursing rib damage.

It means both players face uphill fitness fights to be available for the Wales game in Hamilton on Sunday. Samoa scrum-half Kahn Fotuali’i, who will join Welsh regional side the Ospreys later this season, opened the scoring with a try after just 49 seconds. Fotuali’i smashed through the attemped tackle of wing Llewellyn Winkler to claim a score that Pisi converted, and then Tuilagi crossed twice in 18 minutes to underpin a 25-0 interval advantage. Paul Williams slotted a penalty after taking over the kicking duties from Pisi, while Tuilagi effortlessly completed his hat-trick.

Williams added the conversion and Samoa had achieved their try-scoring bonus point with 25 minutes remaining.

Samoa claimed another score when Williams converted his own try, and although Namibia duo Danie Van Wyk and Theuns Kotze collected consolation tries, with Kotze landing one conversion, Williams sealed the win when he converted a penalty try.