Wales turned in a sparkling second-half performance to subdue the big-hitting Samoans at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

It was Wales' first win over Samoa since 1988 and was revenge for the humiliating defeats in the 1991 and 1999 World Cups.

"We had to win - and win well," said coach Graham Henry. "There was pressure on us to score points against an experienced Samoan side, and I thought we played some good stuff in the second half.

"Having said that, I thought that we were a bit rusty. It was our first international of the season and hopefully we can move further up the ladder next week when we play the USA."

The Samoans had rocked Wales with a typically robust opening 20 minutes in which they made a couple of searing breaks and put in the trademark huge tackles.

But Wales came alive on 22 minutes when the impressive Colin Charvis made a ball-juggling break into the Samoan 22.

Ten minutes later new Wales skipper Mark Taylor scored the game's opening try and it was more a case of how many Wales would score rather than if they would win.

Wales may have dominated the closing stages of the opening period, but poor line out play will be a concern to coach Graham Henry with the Springboks looming.

Too often Garin Jenkins missed his man or the jumpers mis-timed their leaps.

But the second half - a few more line out blips and Quentin Sanft's opening penalty aside - was a far more polished affair.

Wales brought pacey Cardiff full-back Rhys Williams into the line on several occasions two of which resulted in two tries for namesake Neath wing Shane.

The first opened Wales' second-half account and the second was a virtuoso performance from the Neath man.

He jinked past three men off a flat pass from Scott Quinnell and then beat another behind the line to touch down under the posts.

In between Williams' brace, lock Ian Gough had scored a try typical of Wales' approach to the game.

The second row had been on the field less than a minute before he was sin-binned for a shoulder charge off the ball.

Reaction

After the game the Wales players were united in acknowledging that it had taken the team some time to settle into the first international of the season.

"We started to gel in the second half," said two-try wing Shane Williams.

It was full back Rhys Williams' first game in the new arena and he felt equally at home:

"It's exciting times and I'm enjoying it," he said.

He acknowledged the challenge of the Samoans: "It was a very physical game."

The final word was left to new captain Mark Taylor:

"It was a brilliant feeling to lead the side to a win like that," he said.

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Scorers - Wales: Tries: M Taylor, S Williams 2, I Gough, A Bateman, penalty try. Cons: A Thomas 4. Pens: A Thomas 4

Samoa: Pens: Patu, Sanft

Teams - Wales: R Williams (Cardiff), A Bateman (Northampton), M Taylor (Swansea, capt), S Gibbs (Swansea) S Williams (Neath), A Thomas (Swansea), R Howley (Cardiff), I Thomas (Ebbw Vale), G Jenkins (Swansea), B Evans (Swansea), I Gough (Newport), D Jones (Ebbw Vale), G Lewis (Swansea), S Quinnell (Llanelli), C Charvis (Swansea)
Replacements: D James (Llanelli), N Jenkins (Cardiff), R Moon (Llanelli), N Budgett (Ebbw Vale), J Griffiths (Swansea), S John (Cardiff), A Lewis (Cardiff)

Samoa: H Patu, T Faasua, F Soolefai, F Tuilagi, F Toala, Q Sanft, S So'oialo, T Veiru, O Matauiai (capt), P Asi, O Palepoi, S Poaching, A Vaeluaga, L Mealamu, J Maligi
Replacements: D Tafeamaalii, M Schwalger, S Tone, J Mamea, I Evalu, A Toleafoa, P Misa

Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)

Att: 60,000