Finished Aviva Stadium
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Live Commentary
Time:80'- Ireland
- Samoa
- - And that’s it from the Aviva Stadium.
80' A fixture that promised much has, in fact, in pretty decent conditions, offered very little.- 79' O’Gara kicks to the corner and Ireland have one last chance to push for the line.
- 78' Ireland finish in the ascendancy and chase a third try to put a gloss on a performance that has lacked polish.
- 76' That results in a five minute scrum and the Samoans are awarded a penalty. Fitzgerald collects the punt before hurtling forward. The Samoans turnover the ball but then give away a penalty. O’Gara to touch.
- 72' Ireland working the phases now and their getting the tempo going. They push and Healy thinks he has a try but the television replays show different. Scrum five metres out.
- 70' Ireland playing with a little more purpose now.
68' O’Gara converts for a 20-10 lead. Game surely over.
67' Following a period of concerted pressure, Donncha O'Callaghan eased the pressure with a long punt forward that resulted in a penalty. Stringer took the tap quickly before feeding O’Gara who dummied his man before touching down under the post- 65' Lots of pressure from the visitors.
- 62' Ireland are, incredibly, hanging on here. This is the visitors half and their constant pressure on the ball continues to force errors.
- 60' Williams kick drops just short.
- 59' Samoa having the better of this half. And Ireland again rely on the boot of O’Gara to gain some territory. They go through the phases but the Samoans put in some big hits and are moving the Irish backwards before the Samoans turn it over. Ireland infringe and Samoa have an opportunity to level the game.
- 57' Samoa getting a lot quicker ball this half.
- 56' Ireland’s turn to give away a penalty and Williams converts to move this one back to a three point game.
- 53' Another penalty at the breakdown. The referee really needs to get on top of this if the game is to produce any form of decent rugby.
- 51' Playing very narrow, the hosts are playing into their hosts hands. The move breaks down.
- 49' That’s better from Bowe and Ireland. He makes a quick interchange with Trimble before a Samoan body gets in the way of the return to O’Driscoll. Much better from the Irish, who the revert to some pick-up and drive rugby.
- 46' Some ill-discipline in the Samoan ranks relieves some pressure on the Irish, who have the put in at the scrum.
- 43' Samoa deep in Irish territory but the Irish hold firm and some loose handling from Sakaria Taulafo gives the home side the put in at the scrum.
41' Six points between the sides as the second half commences.- - That’s it from the first half. Need quicker ball in the second half. Less of a kicking game.
- 40' Ireland’s pick up and drive game plan was not what was expected from the hosts and although the plan - territorially speaking, thanks to the boot of O’Gara – has bore fruits, the pick up and drive side of things has left – aside from Heaslip’s try – a lot to be desired. Good position in the opposition twenty-two has been let down by poor handling.
- 38' Ireland again doing well to slow the tempo down but it has done very little for the match as a spectacle. Ireland pressurise the Pacific Islanders again and force a poor kick to touch. Ireland again claim the line-out and work the ball from right to left before Trimble’s handling lets him down.
- 36' Ireland again go through the phases following the line-out but a loose reverse pass lets a good move down. The idea was there but a distinct lack of execution lets the Irish down again.
- 34' O’Gara is giving a master class in tactical kicking and he finds touch deep in Samoan territory.
- 33' A clever kick is well covered by Brian O’Driscoll but they build again patiently until O’Gara kicks for Bowe to chase down. He almost gets to it but this game for all its potential has been disappointing.
- 31' Samoa run the ball well but again some poor handling lets them down. Ireland kick and charge for the Samoan’s to illegally regain the ball. This one has been littered with penalties. O’Gara goes for the post. 13-7.
- 28' Ireland have now given away four penalties at the scrum but surprisingly the Samoans have yet to utilise the tap to up the tempo and instead kick for touch.
- 26' Declan Kidney will be disappointed with that. They worked hard for their points and then throw cheap points away and from a commanding position they find themselves in a three point game.
- 24' Williams converts to make this a three point game.
- 23' Great response from the Pacific Islanders. A good line-out and a great piece of handling from Tasesa Lavea opens a gap in the Irish defence and he feeds Alesana Tuilagi who touches down under the post.
- 20' Ireland doing well to slow the tempo down at the moment but the Samoans begin to lift the pace.
- 19' O’Gara converts with aplomb and the Irish are 10-0.
- 18' Ireland work the ball well from a line-out and a period of good pressure results in the first try of the match. Excellent composure from the home side there, who went through the phases until Jamie Heaslip crossed for the try.
- 14' Ireland have thus far looked to take the Samoans on physically and they are getting some joy. O’Gara finds O’Driscoll and he runs some interesting lines but despite showing some good feet his handling lets him down and he knocks-on. O’Gara then has a kick charged down and Bowe comes across to sweep up.
- 10' This one has begun unexpectedly slow. Needs a lift at the moment.
- 8' Denis Leamy collects a clever kick that could have caused a few problems. Stringer manages to get the ball to O’Gara from the breakdown and he fires deep into the Samoan twenty-two. The Irish chase down well but can’t get a turnover.
- 7' The Samoans have gone through some very impressive phases in the opening moments of this one and for the second time in the opening five minutes Tommy Bowe is required to bring a decent charge down the wing to an end with a well timed challenge.
- 3' The Pacific Islanders were penalised for advancing in front of the kicker there and they’ll have to keep disciplined if they are to make a fist of this one.
- 2' Early penalty opportunity for O’Gara from thirty metres out and to the right of the posts. No hesitation from the veteran. 3-0 to the Irish.
1' Anthems done and O’Gara gets us underway.- - The weather appears to have held out despite reports of impending atrocious weather, which should make it more competitive.
- Samoa: Paul Williams; David Lemi, George Pisi, Seilala Mapusua, Alesana Tuilagi; Tasesa Lavea, Kahn Fotualii; Sakaria Taulafo, Mahonri Schwalger, Anthony Perenise; Filipo Lavea Levi, Kane Thompsen; Ofisa Trevarinus, Manaia Salavea, George Stowers. Replacements: Tii Paulo, Simon Lemalu, Iosefa Tekori, Afa Aiono, Junior Poluleuligaga, Gavin Williams, Jamie Helleur.- - Ireland: Luke Fitzgerald; Tommy Bowe, Brian O'Driscoll, Paddy Wallace, Andrew Trimble; Ronan O'Gara, Peter Stringer; Tom Court, Sean Cronin, John Hayes; Donncha O'Callaghan, Devin Toner; Denis Leamy, Sean O'Brien, Jamie Heaslip. Replacements: Rory Best, Cian Healy Donnacha Ryan, Stephen Ferris, Isaac Boss, Jonathan Sexton, Keith Earls.
- - Having said that, There are plenty of proven performers in the Pacific Islanders’ line-up such as London Irish pair Seilala Mapusua and George Stowers, Wasps’ David Lemi and Clermont Auvergne’s Tasesa Lavea. Given space and time, they can be dangerous and they will no doubt be extremely hard in the tackle, and expectthem to be in the opening twenty or so.
- - Following a run of six defeats on the bounce – including four test losses – Declan Kidney’s side are in need of a win here. History is on their side though, in the previous four encounters between these two sides Ireland have been victorious on three occasions.
- - Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage from the Aviva Stadium as Ireland look to recover from last weekend’s defeat to South Africa against Samoa.
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Summary
Ireland versus Samoa Heaslip 19’, O'Gara 65’ Tries Tuilagi 23’ O'Gara 20’, 66’ Conversions Williams 24’ O'Gara 2’, 31’ Penalties Williams 55’ Drops
Live Team Line-Up
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IrelandOn the Field
- Court
- Cronin
- Hayes
- O'Callaghan
- Toner
- Leamy
- O'Brien
- Heaslip
- Stringer
- O'Gara
- Trimble
- Wallace
- O'Driscoll
- Bowe
- Fitzgerald
Subs
- Boss
- Best
- Ferris
- Sexton
- Ryan
- Healy
- Earls
Injured
None
Suspended
None
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SamoaOn the Field
- Taulafo
- Schwalger
- Perenise
- Levi
- Thompson
- Treviranus
- Salavea
- Stowers
- Fotuali'i
- Lavea
- Tuilagi
- Mapusua
- Pisi
- Lemi
- Williams
Subs
- Williams
- Poluleuligaga
- Tekori
- Paulo
- Aiono
- Helleur
- Lemalu
Injured
None
Suspended
None
- Taulafo