Wales Sevens have only beaten their Samoan counterparts twice in 13 meetings. Wales Sevens will then take on Tonga Sevens and Japan Sevens on Day One as they bid to build on their strong showing in Hong Kong last weekend.
Adelaide Sevens is the sixth of the eight rounds of the series and, despite going down 26-7 to the All Blacks in the quarter-finals of the main event of the Hong Kong tournament, the Welsh believe they are making significant progress and Coach Gareth Baber is confident of another encouraging tournament.
“There is no doubt we are making great progress as a squad and I was happy with the way we competed against the top two sevens nations in the world,” said Baber, who saw his side lose 15-0 to Fiji Sevens in the pool stages in Hong Kong.
Wales Sevens could be on another collision course with the Kiwis as the Hong Kong title winners are red hot favourites to top Pool A in Adelaide after winning their last 42 matches. If Wales Sevens can top Pool B then they will face the Pool A runners-up – likely to be Scotland Sevens, Argentina Sevens or the Cook Islands Sevens – but the Pool B runner-up is highly likely to be up against New Zealand Sevens in the quarter-finals on Day Two.
Record: Wales Sevens v the three pool opponents they will face Adelaide
Wales Sevens v Samoa Sevens
Played: 13
Wales: 2 wins
Samoa: 11 wins
Highest Wales score: 19-5 (London, 2003)
Highest Samoa score: 43-5 (Hong Kong, 2003)
Wales Sevens v Tonga Sevens
Played: 4
Wales: 3 wins
Tonga: 1 win
Highest Wales score: 26-14 (Adelaide, 2007)
Highest Tonga score: 33-7 (Hong Kong, 2007)
Wales Sevens v Japan Sevens
Played: 4
Wales: 3 wins
Japan: 1 win
Highest Wales score: 36-31 (Singapore, 2002)
Highest Japan score: 36-31 (Defeat in Singapore, 2002)
