Wales set for likely meeting with Ireland

ONLY one thing mattered to Warren Gatland after Wales survived a trademark scare against Samoa to keep alive their World Cup quarter-final hopes – the result.

A 17-10 victory at Waikato Stadium means Wales remain on course for a last-eight clash — probably against Ireland — in Wellington on October 8.

Samoa, though, threatened to inflict a hat-trick of World Cup calamities on Wales following their wins in the 1991 and 1999 tournaments, until wing Shane Williams scored his 55th Test try.