Rugby: Dragon too often slain by the underdog

Coach Warren Gatland is confident captain Sam Warburton, will lead the team to the top of the pool. Photo / AP

Welsh have painful memories of losing to Pacific Islanders, writes Dana Johannsen.

A proud rugby nation, Wales have endured their fair share of disappointment on the big stage and with Pacific Island nations traditionally proving their undoing.

This year Wales' worst nightmare has come true then, placed in the same pool as bogey sides Samoa and Fiji along with defending champions South Africa.

1991: Western Samoa 16 Wales 13

After finishing third in the inaugural World Cup, Wales were all geared up for a strong showing in 1991. But somehow one of the proudest rugby nations in the history of the game came unstuck against a hugely unfancied Western Samoan side in front of their home crowd.

The result was considered a national embarrassment and meant Wales failed to even make it out of their group.

Afterwards at least one could say Welsh humour did shine through. "We lost to Western Samoa," one quip began, "imagine what might have happened if we'd played all of Samoa!"

1995: Ireland 24 Wales 23

Four years later and eager for redemption, the Welsh again hit a flat note in South Africa.

Wales, who had drawn the same pool as the All Blacks, could only muster one win of three pool matches with a heart-breaking one-point loss to Ireland ultimately costing them a place in the finals.

Cue national outrage again.

1999: Samoa 38 Wales 31

So on to 1999 then, when it would surely be their year.

Nothing could go wrong, Wales were hosting the tournament and they had the great redeemer Graham Henry in charge.

Hang on, this is starting to sound familiar ... not sure we want to go down this path.

The team had won 10 on the trot (okay, that sounds better - the All Blacks have lost the last two, what a relief!) and fancied revenge for the 1991 defeat which the nation was only just getting over.

But Samoa pulled off another memorable upset, becoming the first visiting team to win at the Millennium Stadium as Wales officially became Samoa's bunny.

2007: Fiji 38 Wales 34

Despite fielding a Grand Slam winning team, Wales were one of the big disappointments at the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

It was a Pacific Island nation that again foiled the Welsh charge as they bungled their final pool game against Fiji and failed to reach the quarter-finals.

Three tries in 10 minutes set the scene, winger Vilimoni Delasau scorching in for a 25-3 lead.

The Welsh staggered back into the game with three of their own, but the boot of Nicky Little left the islanders perfectly placed for prop Graham Dewes to crash over and decide the day.