Samoa have kicked off their World Cup campaign with a 49-12 victory over Namibia.

Samoan scrum-half Kahn Fotuali'i got the match off to a flying start with a converted try after only 49 seconds, followed by a penalty from Tusi Pisi and a try from winger Alesana Tuilagi.

Fly-half Pisi converted the try and added another penalty before limping off 10 minutes later with a hamstring strain.

Tuilagi went over for his second just before half-time after a quick tapped penalty by Maurie Fa'asavalu, making the scores 25-0 at the break.

Samoa were reduced to 14 men in the second half when Paul Williams was sin-binned, but a string of replacements and Williams’s return gave Samoa a boost and Tuilagi sprinted over for his hat-trick in the 53rd minute, followed by a try from Williams to make it 40-0.

Namibia got off the mark when Danie van Wyk ran in from halfway, but the fight-back was dampened when flanker Rohan Kitshoff was sin-binned and Samoa were handed a penalty try for an infraction near the try-line.

Namibia fly-half Theuns Kotze scored and converted a try with two minutes remaining to make the final score 49-12 to Samoa.

Samoa go on to face Wales on Sunday, September 18, while Namibia next face defending champions South Africa on Thursday, September 22.