Samoa produced one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history by beating the Welsh at Cardiff Arms Park in 1991.

At a time when the old order were still relatively unchallenged, that 16-13 win signalled the beginning of a new era in international rugby.

Ever since, nations perceived as 'second-tier' have made ground on the established nations and on occasion old divisions have blurred.

In that 1991 tournament, Samoa emerged as the neutral's favourite. Led by a piano mover, Peter Fatialofa, they tackled in a way that rugby fans had rarely seen before.

The Samoans were not content with simply stopping the opposition, they wanted to dump them five yards backwards.

They qualified for the quarter-finals and further increased their stock in the 1995 competition, beating both Italy and Argentina on their way to the last eight.

When the Samoans returned to Britain for the 1999 tournament, they repeated history by beating the Welsh on home soil and also overcoming the Japanese. But they were beaten by Scotland in a quarter-final play-off.

That Samoa have achieved so much, while haemorrhaging players to New Zealand says a lot for the inherent determination to succeed on the Polynesian island with a population of only 176,000.

Many All Blacks have started their international careers wearing the blue of Samoa, including Va'aiga Tuigamala, Frank Bunce, Michael Jones, Pat Lam, Stephen Bachop, John Schuster and Junior Tonuu.

Samoa qualified for their fourth World Cup, coming out of a tricky Oceania group with Fiji and Tonga.

If Samoa are to emulate their success of 1991 and 1995, they can afford no mistakes against Georgia or Uruguay and must surely beat either South Africa or England to progress which, on paper at least, appears an impossible task.

The odds are stacked against them, but Samoa have made a habit of turning rugby's natural order on its head.

Squad: Maurie Fa'asavalu, Lome Fa'atau, Terry Fanolua, Ron Fanuatanu, Dominic Feunati, Fa'atonu Fili, Leo Laifaiali'i, Kas Lealamanua, Simon Lemalu, Tamato Leupolu, Brian Lima, Jonathan Meredith, Opeta Palepoi, Peter Poulos, Dale Rasmussen, Romi Ropati, Mahonri Schwalger, Patrick Segi, John Senio, Semo Sititi, Steven So'oialo, Sailosi Tagicakibau, Jeremy Tomuli, Des Tuiavi'i, Denning Tyrell, Earl Va'a, Siaosi Vaili, Tanner Vili, Kitiona Viliamu, Mike Von Dincklage.