STAR prop Gethin Jenkins says Wales’ humiliating 2007 World Cup defeat to Fiji taught this squad to take victory for granted against Samoa at their peril.

Wales were red-hot favourites to beat Fiji in Nantes two years ago but went down 38-34 in one of the great World Cup matches.

Nine members of the current squad played in that game which saw Wales knocked out of the tournament.

As well as missing a quarter-final showdown with South Africa it also signaled the end of the road for coach Gareth Jenkins.

The former Llanelli Scarlets boss was fired after the game, a sacking which in the end ushered in the Warren Gatland era.

The nine survivors are Jenkins, Tom Shanklin, James Hook, Shane Williams, Stephen Jones, Dwayne Peel, Matthew Rees, Alun Wyn Jones and Martyn Williams.

The world class Jenkins is very wary of the Samoan challenge ahead of their clash with Wales on Friday night at the Millennium Stadium.

He said: “Wales have a strong squad but some of our players know from Fiji that South Seas Islanders are very strong and very skillful.

“Our players need to get their heads down this week and make sure we win the other three matches (Wales face Argentina on November 21 and November 28) to show that we are a good team.”

The first-choice British and Irish Lions loose-head, who will be 29 next week, only returned from a summer shoulder injury last month.

The Cardiff Blues man is keen to get more game time and is relishing Friday’s clash: “Samoa will be just as tough as New Zealand. I want to get as much game time as I can and I want to be in the team for that game.”

Speaking about Wales’ other autumn series matches after the narrow defeat to the All Blacks on Saturday, Jenkins said: “We know we can compete at the highest level.

“With Australia coming towards the end, we really want to beat those big teams.”