Rugby World Cup 2011: Sam Warburton dedicates win to Welsh miners

Sam Warburton feeds the ball back from a line-out against Samoa

Captain Sam Warburton dedicated Wales' 17-10 World Cup win over Samoa to the families of four Welsh miners who died last week.

Warburton's side trailed 10-6 at the break, but Shane Williams scored a crucial try to secure the win.

"I would like to dedicate the win today to the families of the miners back home," said flanker Warburton. "Our thoughts are with them."

Coach Warren Gatland said: "I thought we showed some great character."

Wales scrum-half Mike Phillips echoed Warburton's sentiments about the mining tragedy near Pontardawe.

"It was mentioned in the team huddle before going out. We wanted to do it for them and for their families," said Phillips.

It was Wales' first World Cup win over the islanders in three attempts, having lost to them in Cardiff at the 1991 and 1999 tournaments.

Victory also followed Wales' opening 17-16 defeat by reigning champions South Africa.

Gatland, coaching Wales in his home town of Hamilton, added: "We were under pressure at half-time but the boys dug deep.

"We've worked really hard the last few months and you've got to show people how much it means to us to get out of this and get a W [win] on the board.

"I thought in the last 15-20 minutes Samoa's conditioning probably told and they looked to tire a bit and weren't quite as effective in the second part of the second half as they were in the first.

"I thought we defended exceptionally well for most of the game."

Gatland also praised Shane Williams for his 55th Wales try, the wing also setting a national World Cup try-scoring record of eight by overtaking former Wales captains Gareth Thomas and Ieuan Evans.

"It's great to see him score another try. I thought he looked very, very dangerous on attack and I thought he was close on two or three occasions when he could have gone through and opened up the game," Gatland said.

Flanker Warburton praised Leigh Halfpenny, who replaced shoulder injury victim James Hook at the break. Wales also lost Dan Lydiate to an ankle injury.

"Both sides didn't disappoint, we knew it was going to be an immensely tough battle," said Warburton.

"Samoa are very physical and it was a tough game for us.

"We wanted to keep the ball in play as much as we could and back our fitness levels towards the end of the match.

"Leigh [Halfpenny] came on and added some great momentum to the side and Shane finished it off as we've seen him do a million times before.

"If our backs get a sniff they're pretty handy."

Samoa skipper Mahonri Schwalger believes his side's fate rested on referee Alain Rolland denying dynamic flanker Maurie Fa'asavula a try.

Instead Rolland penalised Fa'asavula for a double movement on the floor.

"That was pretty harsh and it might have been the turning point of the game," said former Scarlets and Ospreys hooker Schwalger.

"There's some things you can't win and that's the way it goes. All we can do now is just move on."

"There were a few things where the referee was pretty harsh on us, but that's the way it goes you win some, you lose some," Schwalger said.

"We've still got a chance - if we win our next two games [against Fiji and South Africa] we'll be fine."

"We're still there -- I've got belief in my team. My team will make the quarter-finals, if we concentrate on the next two games."