Samoa made a slow start before outclassing World Cup debutants Chile 43-10 with backline craft and forward power to get their Pool D campaign off to a winning start at Stade de Bordeaux.
Los Condores delighted the massed ranks of their exuberant fans by scoring the opening try of the match through prop Matias Dittus and Samoa needed the place-kicking of Christian Leali'ifano to creep ahead towards the end of the first half.
Tries from fullback Duncan Paia'aua and scrumhalf Jonathan Taumateine immediately before and after halftime gave the Pacific islanders some breathing room and two tries from rolling mauls secured the bonus point.
Despite backing up from their loss to Japan and having two players sin binned, the Chileans continued to fight and had the better of a scrappy final quarter until Samoa's reserve hooker Sama Malolo scored his second try late on.
Later, Wales withstood a superb display of endeavour from Portugal to claim an entertaining 28-8 victory, as Taulupe Faletau's try with the last play of the game earned a vital bonus point.
Wales coach Warren Gatland described the fixture as "a slippery one" and so it proved as Portugal took the game to their more vaunted opponents, who will need a vast improvement when they face Australia on Sept. 24.
Wales have now won 12 of their last 13 pool matches at the World Cup and scored tries through wing Louis Rees-Zammit, hooker Dewi Lake and flanker Jac Morgan, before Faletau barged over for the crucial score.
Portugal, back at the World Cup for the first time since 2007, played with pace and purpose, especially in the first half, running the ball at every opportunity in an eye-catching display.
They trailed 14-3 at the break but claimed a second-half try via flanker Nicolas Martins after a brilliant line-out move that typified their effort.
Reuters
