Ireland Qualify After Winning 47-5 Full Match Report

 

on 4 minutes in Ireland Caught it, drove it, scored it. As simple as that. But as Sexton was about to set up for the conversion the TMO weighed in and said  CJ Stander was obstructing in front after breaking from the maul.

 

The ref was having none of it, and the Ireland skipper got the try awarded. Sexton converted from wide right and Ireland went 7-0 up for a fast start to the game.

 

Just 4 minutes later Ireland had a penalty on halfway, which Sexton unsurprisingly launched in to touch for another catch and drive on the Samoa 22. The drive came with crushing inevitability, but Samoa repelled it before it was worked left into Furlong’s hands who had a cheeky little show and go before powering over through three tacklers from 8 metres out. Sexton converted making it 2 out of 2 and Ireland led 14-0

 

On 22 minutes From a lineout in the Samoa half, Ireland gave  Aki and then Stander a run, the ball went out quick to Larmour who was joining the line in the 13 channel, he was through on the fullback and dollied an inside pass to Sexton to walk it in. Sexton again added the extras.

 Ireland had so far 82% of possession, and Samoa had used their 18% to give a masterclass in kicking the ball back to Ireland or dropping it but then Samoa won a lineout. It was off the top quickly and worked through two phases before Jack Lam picked and went from 2 metres and he was just too strong for Stander’s tackle to stop him scoring.

Henry Taefu pulled the conversion horribly left although Samoa were back in the game slightly at 21-5.

Half an hour gone and  Ireland worked some phases around halfway, but the Samoa defence was up to it. They were not rushing up as much and holding their shape a bit better, and it was paying off. The ball was fumbled and there was a clash between Aki and Seuteni. Aki had hit him full on in the face with his shoulder and he was very upright. It was a red card and Ireland went down a man.

 Aki had very little time to decide his tackle, he found a man running at him after a fumble and had a split second to make a tackle in fairness but the ref had no option.

Just before half time  From a scrum, it was flung left on the short side to Sexton who looped around from the open side to dive over. That secured the bonus point.

Sexton missed the conversion which finished the half.

As the second half got underway Ireland’s forward carrying remained impressive and they were punching into the Samoa line, hooker Lam was too keen with his hands on the deck it was another penalty to Ireland and another lineout to catch and drive.

Ireland did the usual and Samoa were penalised again that allowed Sexton to kick to touch and start the whole show again.

 This time the lineout was taken, worked right through the forwards and Furlong was over in a crowd. Ref Berry thought it was a no try but did ask the TMO to have a look. There was nothing on screen to change the call.

 The Ireland scrum was crumpling the Samoan pack like a broken concertina. Another penalty given was tapped quickly and Samoa was on the hop as Ireland flooded towards the line. Conor Murray threw a lovely miss-one pass to Larmour who went over in the corner after Earls ran a lovely decoy line to hold the defender and make the pass possible.

Sexton caressed the ball over from out right taking the score to 33-5, Ref Berry had his work cut out as the discipline levels dropped especially Samoa and then on the 65th minute  Stander picked and went fromthe base of scrum and it was stopped, he then got  back up while his packmates took another drive in, repeated  the pick and go this time from the ruck and he went over with assistance from O’Mahoney, Carbery had no problem with the extras and took the score to 40-5.

70 minutes played and Carbery dinked a perfect grubber into the in-goal for Conway to touch down. The conversion was added by Carbery extending the lead further to 47-5.

It was a controlled and perfunctorily effective peformance from Ireland even when down to 14 players. The forwards were excellent, and while the play was more Lisburn than Las Vegas, that won’t bother them at all as they move on with a bruising forwards platform to build on and into the quarter-finals.