Samoa - Rugby World Cup Team Stats

Samoa have won every one of their four opening world cup matches.

They have won two and lost two in every world cup they have played

They have won and lost the same amount of matches, their points for and against is very similar but they have scored almost twice as many tries as the opposition.

Their record victory is the 60-13 win against Uruguay in 2003.

Their record defeat is the 60-10 loss against Sunday’s opponents South Africa in 2003.

Brian Lima will become the first man ever in 2007 to play in 5 world cup tournaments.

Lima has appeared in 16 matches to date and will beat Jason Leonard’s record of 22 if Samoa reach the last four!

The most points scored in a match by a Samoan is the 23 scored by Silao Leaega against Japan in 1999. He has also scored the most total points in world cups for them with 62.

Earl Va’a scored a Samoan world cup record 5 penalties against England in 2003.

Samoa have only ever scored one drop goal in the world cup and that was by Stephen Bachop against Scotland in 1991.

No Samoan has ever scored 3 tries in a world cup match but there has been 10 occasions when 2 have been scored and Brian Lima has achieved the feat 4 times.

Maurie Fa’asavalu scored 2 tries for Samoa against Uruguay in the 2003 world cup and has since won Grand Final, Challenge Cup and World Club Championship winners medals with top Rugby League club St Helens.

Frank Bunce played for Samoa in the world cup in 1991 before playing for New Zealand in the 1995 world cup.Dylan Mika played for Samoa in 1995 before playing for New Zealand in 1999.

Conversely, Va’aiga Tuigamala played for New Zealand in the 1991 world cup before playing for Samoa in 1999.

Stephen Bachop played for Samoa in both 1991 and 1999 and his brother Graeme Bachop played for New Zealand in 1991 and 1995 and Japan in 1999.

Steve So’oialo played for Samoa in the 2003 world cup while brother Rodney So’oialo played for New Zealand. They are both in the squads for this year’s tournament.

Brothers Alesana, Anitelia and Henry Tuilagi are all in the Samoan squad. Older brother Fereti played for them in the 1995 world cup.

Mataafa Keenan is the only Samoan to be sent off in a world cup match, against Argentina in 1991 and Lome Fa’atau is the only Samoan to have received a yellow card, against Uruguay in 2003.