Hello, and welcome again to our live Rugby World Cup coverage.

For the 2002 soccer World Cup, which consistently also had early starts for matches, John Motson received criticism for making constant breakfast-related puns.

So I won’t be making any such puns for fear of suffering similar repercussions.

Here are your teams:

Wales: James Hook (Perpignan); George North (Scarlets), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues), Shane Williams (Ospreys); Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Mike Phillips (Bayonne); Paul James, Huw Bennett, Adam Jones (all Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Dragons), Sam Warburton (Blues, capt), Toby Faletau (Dragons).

Replacements: Lloyd Burns (Dragons), Gethin Jenkins, Bradley Davies (both Blues), Andy Powell (Sale Sharks), Tavis Knoyle, Scott Williams (both Scarlets), Leigh Halfpenny (Blues).

Samoa: Paul Williams; Sailosi Tagicakibau, George Pisi, Seilala Mapusua, Alesana Tuilagi; Tusi Pisi, Kahn Fotuali’i; Sakaria Taulafo, Mahonri Schwalger (c), Anthony Perenise, Daniel Leo, Kane Thompson, Ofisa Treviranus, Maurie Faasavalu, George Stowers.

Replacements: Ti’i Paulo, Census Johnston, Joe Tekori, Manaia Salavea, Jeremy Sua, Eliota Sapolu Fuimaono, Tasesa Lavea.

My predictions for today:

Wales 20-15 Samoa

England 40-7 Georgia

France 50-10 Canada

Dublin to win the All-Ireland (don’t ask me why)

Do you disagree? Let us know in the comments section below.

Wales have a nice National Anthem – one of the best. Up there with Amhrán na bhFiann certainly.

What a day of sport we have ahead of us. There’s some great World Cup and Premier League matches, in addition to the All-Ireland final, and of course the big one – Bala Town v Llanelli in the Welsh Premier League.

And we’re off, as Samoa immediately kick it out on the full. A sign of nerves perhaps?

Penalty to Wales!!! On the halfway line. James Hook chooses to kick it.

HOOK MISSES!!! It moves slightly to the left of the posts and drags wide at the last minute. A decent effort nonetheless from Hook

So close. Samoa pass the ball deep inside the Wales 22, but a forward pass brings the move to an end.

Incredible stuff! Wales lose their own scrum five metres from their try line, only for Samoa to swiftly lose possession again, allowing Shane Williams to kick it away desperately.

Some typically brave rugby from Wales, who pass it across their try line. Samoa are subsequently penalised for being offside, and Wales clear it away.

PENALTY FOR WALES!!! Samoa are penalised for a high tackle.

WALES 3-0 SAMOA: Hook registers the first points of the game on the scoreboard, kicking what was a straightforward penalty in front of the posts.

Blast from the past there as Shane Williams dodges past three Samoans. Consequently, Wales are in, but with the try line at their mercy, Charteris plays a forward pass to Roberts.

Many people tipped Samoa to gain a surprise victory over Wales at the start of the tournament, however Warren Gatland’s men are proving their doubters wrong at the moment, with an efficient display so far.

Penalty to Samoa!!! Commentator’s curse surely.

WALES 3-3 SAMOA: Paul Williams with a very well-struck penalty from a fair few yards out levels the score at 3-3.

Shades of the South Africa game there. Priestland goes for the drop goal, but his effort is poor, as he drags it to the left of the posts.

Penalty for Wales!!! Samoa are penalised for collapsing the scrum.

WALES 6-3 SAMOA: He made that look more difficult than it should have been. Hook slips as he kicks it, but he successfully gets it through the posts nevertheless.

Wow! Samoa are camped out on the Wales try line. Perenise dives for the line, but is tackled to the ground and consequently penalised for a double movement.

Wales get a penalty. They were very lucky there.

Sick of reading about that game yesterday yet? While there is a break in play, check out the Aussies’ vitriolic reaction to their side’s performance yesterday. This report puts it rather wittily: In the understatement of the year, a chastened Wallabies captain James Horwill said: ”We played some dumb footy.”

Lineout to Samoa inside the Wales 22. Less than five minutes remaining in the first half.

Great strength from Paul Williams to break through a Wales tackle. Wales are under pressure now.

TRY FOR SAMOA!!!

WALES 6-10 SAMOA A period of pressure eventually results in Samoa getting their reward, as the ball is passed across to Perenise and the big prop practically steamrolls over the Wales line.

HALF TIME: WALES 6-10 SAMOA

Like Wales’ last match, this is a terrifically entertaining affair. As expected, it’s an incredibly tight game that is being dominated by forwards. Despite my earlier prediction, I’m starting to fancy Samoa in this one – they look stronger, more determined and more tactically astute.

Right, I’m going to make myself a cup of coffee. I suggest you do the same.

Given that there is a very good chance that the winner of this game will play Ireland in the quarters, who would you rather we come up against?

The second half is underway.

PENALTY TO WALES!!!

WALES 9-10 SAMOA: Incredible! Priestland’s kick from way out on the left-hand side of the pitch hits the bar and goes over.

Some good, controlled rugby from Samoa inside the Wales half. Their ball retention has been impressive at times.

PENALTY TO SAMOA!!!

MISSED!!! Paul Williams, with a kick on the right side of pitch and the wind in his favour, kicks it woefully to the left of the posts.

Some more pressure from Samoa, but Wales’ excellent defence helps them regain possession. Davies latches on to an intelligent kick forward, but he can’t control the bouncing ball and kicks it out of play.

SAMOA SUBSTITUTION: Tagicakibau off for S’ooialo.

This game really is balanced on a knife edge.

More patient rugby from Samoa, as they gradually gain ground inside the Wales half.

Really poor play from Andy Powell. He takes his eye off the ball and drops it, as the pass comes to him.

WALES SUBSTITUTION: Burns on for Bennett and Jenkins replaces James.

PENALTY FOR WALES!!!

WALES 12-10 SAMOA: Wales had a good passage of play there. They strung a few passes together and eventually frustrated Samoa into conceding the penalty, which Priestland kicks over.

TRY FOR WALES!!!

WALES 17-10 SAMOA: Brilliant play from Halfpenny, who breaks away from the Samoan tackler right from the restart and exchanges passes down the left wing with Davies, before playing in Williams, who easily scores his umpteenth try for his country. The conversion, however, is missed.

Halfpenny showed a great turn of pace there and really was the key man in that passage. Will he prove to be the architect of Samoa’s downfall, or can they come back? A fascinating last few minutes are in store for us.

PENALTY!!! Samoa choose to run it, interestingly.

ANOTHER SAMOA PENALTY!!! Inside the Wales 22, they kick for the lineout. Will they regret doing so?

Wales steal it on their own try line and earn a five-metre scrum. Samoa will rue that missed opportunity.

Three minutes left. The best Samoa can hope for is a draw now, surely.

Alun Wyn Jones has been named the man of the match.

Wales win their lineout and just need to hold onto it for a few seconds now.

PENALTY FOR SAMOA!!! Last play of the game.

FULL TIME – WALES 17-10 SAMOA: Wales win the turnover and Priestland kicks it out of play for the win.

Samoa failed to score a single point in the second half.

Samoa captain credits the Welsh and says his team failed to take advantage of the wind in the second half. Then he starts speaking Samoan. Unfortunately, I am ill-equipped to translate.

Sam Warburton says Wales backed their fitness. He credits Halfpenny and talks about the squad’s strength-in-depth. He dedicates the win to the Welsh miners, who have of course endured a recent tragedy.

All in all, it was a very entertaining game. Both sides played some great rugby, and it’s a shame Samoa probably won’t be going to the quarters, as they were excellent today.

Naturally, there’ll be some talk of a quarter-final match between Wales and Ireland now. However, I have a feeling that Italy game may be trickier than people think, so let’s not speak too soon.

Okay, that’s it from me (for this game anyway). I’ll be back very shortly to liveblog England versus Georgia. Thanks for reading.