14 Sep 2011

Samoa score bonus point victory in rugby world cup start

4:31 pm on 14 September 2011

Samoa have beaten Namibia 49-12 in their opening match at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

They scored six tries, including a penalty try awarded for repeated scrum infringements.

Alesana Tuilagi crossed the line three times and Kahn Fotuali'i and Paul Williams also got tries.

Flyhalf Tusi Pisi slotted two conversions and a penalty before he went off in the 28th minute with a hamstring injury while Williams, who was sinbinned in the first half for a shoulder charge on Namibia flyhalf Theuns Kotze, kicked a penalty and added three conversions.

Namibia centre Danie van Wyk and Kotze scored consolation tries for the African side, while the flyhalf converted his effort under the posts.

This evening Tonga play their second game of the tournament.

They meet Canada in Whangarei in front of a sell out crowd.