1988 Rugby Union match: Wales vs Manu Samoa

We watched the Samoans beating Wales in recent years. Back to the old days, here is their second match against each other. The Welsh had a disastrous tour of New Zealand in 1988. They were riddled by injuries and won only two matchesin the tour. They got thrashed by the All Blacks in both test matches, and they were very painful for Welsh fans to watch. They look to rebound against new IRB member Western Samoa. Look out for Jonathan Davies who would switch to rugby league a year later because he accused the WRU of not accepting his statements of improving the Welsh side, and the economy of Wales was shrinking that so many other union players went to Northern England to play league during that period. This was the darkest era in Welsh rugby union history, and it would cost them during the early 90's. They went winless two seasons later in the Five Nations in which the Scotsmen won.

[@chicoavapalu694]

First time seen these always want to see my uncle Tauveve plays thank for posting

[@manuhamoa]

You can hear the boys singing our anthem in perfect tune. Malo Manu

[@avelepelite9336]

omfg!!! thank you bro, ihave been looking for this match for years!!! thnkz for sharing, god bless...

[@henerypasi7861]

Back in days in Samoa does not have television live coverage or television station. Television transmissions introduced in 1993. But it was only turn in to the radio broadcast live. 2ap. Compare in modern days everything's changed by the technology.

[@bwytacig]

I remember watching this, great video. A few points however, it wasn't their first match against each other. They had played an official test in Apia in 1986, Wales winning 32-14. Secondly, they won two matches on the tour of NZ, beating Otago and Hawkes Bay.

[@aboriginalbrotha9947]

Thanks I will update it.

[@aboriginalbrotha9947]

The Welsh won only two matches on tour in 1988. That was against Hawkes Bay and Otago. The Welsh still had a disastrous tour.

[@toetap3937]

They beat otago 24-20

[@aboriginalbrotha9947]

I looked it back up, and you're right.

[@hfaataualofa]

Remember playing lineouts like basketball jump ball because there were no lifts back then...

[@theephraimite]

Aight. Tuesday ngt - October 25, 2022.

[@chardz2007]

They were an awesome side which gave us Welsh a lot of trouble

[@leemorgan8478]

For me this was one of the worst years as a rugby fan seeing our team go from not competing with the best to losing all our best players to Rugby league for me the triple crown mean't nothing when the WRU were so out of touch the game had changed & we were left behind for a number of years .

[@aboriginalbrotha9947]

It was a very terrible period for the Welsh. I believe Welsh players during that time wanted to switch to league, and it killed the team's morale. In 1990, they lost all four of their matches in the Five Nations.

[@aboriginalbrotha9947]

I know. It was real bad for Welsh rugby union fans during the darkest period in their history. It was especially real bad in 1989-1991, plus Samoa beat them in a World Cup opening group game which was a shove in the ass to them and too embezzling. Way worse than in rugby league when Great Britian losing the test series to France in 1990 by score difference after they lost the second game in Leeds, but they got lucky in the first game in France.

[@31titan70]

Wales playing a tiny island is funny

[@robertroberts2666]

As plucky as he was, Swansea's Robert ( box kick ) Jones must have dreaded facing Pooler's all-rounder Dai Bish around this time knowing that he was always likely to be on a hiding to nothing.

[@chicoavapalu694]

Lots of bad calls by the reff on these game

[@avebac1]

my gosh the ref is trigger happy so anoying. no wonder they went to league

[@alfagalem6692]

Samoa last test 1988 ready to world cup 1991....samoa best 1991 world cup

[@tamaolemaa]

This ref is bent. How many gold watches did he get that day from the WRU? lol

[@TimBrianTufuga]

This is odd? I am certain that Peter Fatialofa's team won against Wales in 1988. I am puzzled with this video but there you go?

[@alfagalem6692]

Vedio 1988

[@sexobscura]

*I can make out blue and red blobs amidst the green*