24 years in 140 characters: Dropped the "Western" after reaching last eight in 91 and 95 and haven't gone so far since, though Wales were beaten in Cardiff again, in 99.
World Cup record:
1987: Not invited
1991: Quarter-finals
1995: Quarter-finals
1999: Quarter-final play-offs
2003: Pool Stages
2007: Pool Stages.
Record in 2011: P4 W2 L2
Coach: Titimaea Tafua
Captain: Seilala Mapusua
How are they likely to get on? Surprisingly, the weakest of the South Sea islands in 2007 – but their victory over Australia in July is an indication that this year should be more like 1991, when they beat Wales on their way to the quarter-finals. Their squad bulges with players who have earned their livings in Europe, from Alesana Tuilagi, Seilala Mapusua, Eliota Fuimano-Sapolu, David Lemi, Sailosi Tagicakibau and Paul Williams to Census Johnston, Daniel Leo, Mahonri Schwalger and Kane Thompson. Samoa finished bottom of this year's IRB Pacific Nations Cup, beating the eventual champions, Japan, but losing at home to Fiji and away to Tonga. They will have the benefit of four months in camp, compared to barely a week on their infrequent visits to Europe.
Key player: Samoa have a back division to compare with most. Winning primary possession will be their concern, but in the former London Irish centre Seilala Mapusua they have a master of directing traffic.
Commentator's kit: The only player to play in five World Cups is Samoan. Fortunately for unsuspecting fly-halves everywhere, Brian "The Chiropractor" Lima, so called because a tackle from him was a cheap way to rearrange your spine, retired after the 2007 event.
Squad
Census Johnston, prop, age 30, caps 30
Logovi'i Mulipola, prop, age 24, caps 5
Anthony Perenise, prop, age 28, caps 10
Sakaria Taulafo, prop, age 28, caps 10
Ole Avei, hooker, age 28, caps 2
Ti'i Paulo, hooker, age 28, caps 6
Mahonri Schwalger, hooker, age 32, caps 36
Daniel Leo, second-row, age 28, caps 26
Filipo Levi, second-row, age 33, caps 24
Joe Tekori, second-row, age 27, caps 17
Kane Thompson, second-row, age 29, caps 18
Maurie Fa'asavalu, flanker, age 31, caps 10
Manaia Salavea, flanker, age 25, caps 8
Ofisa Treviranus, flanker, age 27, caps 16
George Stowers, No8, age 32, caps 19
Taisana Tuifu'a, No8, age 27, caps 3
Kahn Fotuali'i, scrum-half, age 29, caps 5
Junior Poluleuligaga, scrum-half, age 30, caps 18
Jeremy Su'a, scrum-half, age 22, caps 0
Tasesa Lavea, fly-half, age 31, caps 5
Tusi Pisi, fly-half, age 29, caps 3
Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, centre, age 30, caps 19
Johnny Leota, centre, age 27, caps 2
Seilala Mapusua, centre (c), age 31, caps 19
George Pisi, centre, age 25, caps 7
David Lemi, wing, age 29, caps 29
Sailosi Tagicakibau, wing, age 28, caps 18
Alesana Tuilagi, wing, age 30, caps 22
James So'oialo, full-back, age 22, caps 3
Paul Williams, full-back, age 28, caps 7
Average age 28.2
Average caps 13.2
