WALES should heed a warning from history when they tackle their World Cup nemesis Samoa, cautions Mark Ring.

Playing at No 10, the ex-Pontypool and Cardiff player became a scapegoat after Wales’ infamous 16-13 defeat to Western Samoa in the 1991 tournament at Cardiff Arms Park. A result which sent shockwaves around the rugby world, it remains one of the nation’s darkest days.

One wag famously quipped that Wales were lucky they weren’t playing the whole of Samoa!

Although they then went on to beat Argentina, Wales crashed out of that World Cup after being annihilated by eventual champions Australia in their final group game.

The fallout was felt for years and a despondent Ring decided to retire from international rugby after that ill-fated tournament.

For Ring, now a coach at Cross Keys and with the Dragons Junior Academy, that autumn day 20 years ago is still a haunting memory.

Wales have never beaten the Pacific Islanders in the World Cup after Graham Henry’s team were stunned in Cardiff again eight years later, this time against the whole of Samoa.

And with Wales hoping to make it third time lucky when they meet their old foes on September 18, Ring believes Warren Gatland’s class of 2011 can beat them – but it won’t be easy.

Speaking about the 1991 game, Ring, who won 28 of his 32 Wales caps as a centre, said he became the fall guy and received such a barrage of abuse from both press and public that he quit the game at the highest level.

“The worst thing about that defeat personally was that some of the media and individuals rounded on me,” he said.

“I don’t know how they got my number but I would get home and people would have left abusive messages on my answer phone.

“But I remember feeling confident going into that game.

“I’d always wanted to play for Wales at outside-half and the first time I did, in a World Cup warm-up match against France, the coach Alan Davies sent me a personalised letter, which I’ve kept to this day, telling me how well I’d played.”

Wales were hotly tipped to see off a Western Samoa that, although containing greats like Pat Lam and Brian Lima, were not as good as the side they have become.

But missed opportunities cost the home side dearly.

“Expectations were high after finishing third in the 1987 World Cup,” Ring recalls. “We destroyed Western Samoa in the scrum but our line-out didn’t function. They broke up the game and really got in amongst us.

“But we still created enough and Tony Clement and Arthur Emyr should have had acres of space but Mike Hall kept running into the Western Samoans.

“And I missed a couple of goal kicks which would have won the match for us.”

Now Wales are up against it again, facing a Samoa team which created another major upset this month when they toppled the mighty Australia 32-23 in Sydney.

“Playing Samoa is a concern – I’m hoping and praying that after all their great preparation, Wales have done their homework from a technical perspective.

“I’m quite reserved about our chances – I wouldn’t be bullish. Samoa are far more disciplined than they were and they have massive physicality and power.

“We have to make sure we don’t get out muscled at the breakdown.

“Wales are certainly good enough to beat them but we can’t just rely on whipping out the ball to Shane Williams and hoping he beats four men.”

On the bright side Ring says Wales are likely to have the upper hand in the front five.

“In Gethin Jenkins and Paul James we have two world class loosehead props and Adam Jones is one of the best tightheads around.

“With Matthew Rees at hooker and Alun Wyn Jones and Bradley Davies at second row, it’s virtually a British and Irish Lions front five.”