DURBAN — Samoa beat Scotland for the first time as powerful winger Alesana Tuilagi scored two tries in a 27-17 win in the opening game of the four-nation tournament in South Africa Saturday. Fullback James So'oialo and Tuilagi crossed in the first 15 minutes at Kings Park to surprise a Scotland team missing its British and Irish Lions. Tuilagi's second in the 64th was then decisive after Scotland had clawed its way back into contention. Scrumhalf Greig Laidlaw began Scotland's fightback with four penalties, and right wing Sean Lamont scored the Scots' only try at the start of the second half to put them briefly ahead. But Tuilagi ran on to a short pass off a scrum and burst through Scotland's defense for Samoa's first victory in nine tests against the Scots. Springboks crush Italy South Africa unleashed a new-look backline and scored five tries to beat Italy 44-10 Saturday, subduing the Italians' newfound confidence after their best Six Nations campaign. Hooker Adriaan Strauss mauled over in the 14th minute and backs JJ Engelbrecht, Bryan Habana, Jean de Villiers and Bjorn Basson also went over for the Springboks. But clinging on and 20-0 down at the end of the first 40, Italy re-emerged to send center Alberto Sgarbi in for a try in the 48th and take control in the opening stages of the second. South Africa didn't completely seal victory until Habana ran away in the 66th to dive over. Wales downs Japan A second-string Wales team twice came from behind to beat Asian champion Japan 22-18 in the opener of their two-Test series in Higashiosaka in Japan. — Agencies
