Samoa the bogey exception

Samoa's "Freddie" Tuilagi: Looking to continue the bogey

BBC rugby pundit Eddie Butler takes off his hat to Samoa who have embarrassed Wales in their last three fixtures.

When it comes to the small population outgunning the big on the rugby field, there's never a shortage of hands raised in the history class.

Anybody, for example - with the possible exception of France - against England.

New Zealand against almost anyone. Except against Wales, of course.

Wales v Samoa. The bogey fixture. Home or away, it doesn't seem to matter

  Eddie Butler

'Cos that's different. They're about the same size in population, see, and although the All Blacks are better, Wales losing to New Zealand on every occasion since Clem Thomas cross-kicked for Ken Jones to score in 1953, is the example that just goes to show that it's the exception that proves the rule.

The rule being that contests between similar sizes of population do not count and that Wales, in all other circumstances, bow to nobody, even if that nobody has loads more bodies than the three and a half million rugby somebodies who live within her own boundaries.

Except of course when it comes to er, Samoa. There always has to be one.

Coral reef

One small South Pacific chain of islands, some archipelago, some coral reef that ruins a rehabilitation programme or a World Cup run.

Wales v Samoa. The bogey fixture. Home or away, it doesn't seem to matter.

In the World Cups of 1991, in Wales, and 1999, in Wales, Samoa came and won.

New Zealand alone have a psychological edge over the warrior spirit because they know that the Samoans know that if they were really good enough to beat the All Blacks, they'd be in the All Blacks team in the first place

  Eddie Butler

And in between times, in Moamoa, they won even more convincingly.

In short, this is not an easy fixture, even if the so-called best of the Samoans are on strike.

So-called because this could all be a trick. The absence of the likes of Trevor Leota and Va'aiga Tuigamala has been put down to a protest for more pay.

Well, there's nothing like a pay dispute among the stars to bring out the best in the young unknowns brought in to take their place.

It goes without saying that the Samoans, whether inexperienced or gnarled, will be direct, inventive and very physical.

Which is probably why Wales find it so difficult to play against them.

It's like playing against a twin. Wales are trying to play like that too.

Because you're both trying to do exactly the same thing all the time, it's easy to second-guess what's coming next.

The number of interception tries by Samoa in recent encounters suggest that the one twin is blessed with a little more insight into the relationship than the other.

England outmuscle Samoa in the maul. Australia and South Africa can take the route A physical approach also, meeting them head on in the loose and then blasting them in the last quarter, confident in their superior fitness.

They are not afraid of Welsh invention

  Eddie Butler

New Zealand alone have a psychological edge over the warrior spirit because they know that the Samoans know that if they were really good enough to beat the All Blacks, they'd be in the All Blacks team in the first place.

But Wales have to play a fast open game that takes play away from driving, churning mauls from the set-piece. As do the Samoans. And so many of the latter have such a good upbringing in New Zealand rugby that they are not afraid of Welsh invention.

A game of invention is just a summertime game of touch-rugby.

So, perhaps Wales will have to settle for something more heavyweight.

This may coincide anyway with a growing self-belief that avoidance of heavyweight duty is no longer essential.

They may have gone for the lightweight Arwel Thomas at outside half, but there is a feeling that the Welsh scrummage can more than hold its own against just about anyone.

With the variety of light and shade offered by Thomas at 10 and the feel-good pack, Wales should have too many options at last to gain a win over Samoa.

And that's the way it should be. It's all about population size, you see. And always will be.

Unless it's against England.