IRE
No.Name
15Jordan Larmour, FB
T
14Keith Earls, W
13Robbie Henshaw, C
12Bundee Aki, C
11Jacob Stockdale, W
10Johnny Sexton, FH
T
2
4
9Conor Murray, SH
1Cian Healy, P
2Rory Best, H
T
3Tadhg Furlong, P
T
4Iain Henderson, L
5James Ryan, L
6Tadhg Beirne, FL
7Josh van der Flier, FL
8CJ Stander, N8
T
Replacements
16Niall Scannell, R
17Dave Kilcoyne, R
18Andrew Porter, R
19Jean Kleyn, R
20Peter O'Mahony, R
21Luke McGrath, R
22Joey Carbery, R
2
23Andrew Conway, R
T

*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold

Game Info

Venue: Best Denki Stadium
11:45 AM, October 12, 2019
All CommentaryKey Events

Match Commentary

81'+147-5 End of second half
80'As for Ireland, they go through to the knockout stages and look to put the upset defeat to Japan behind them.
80'Ireland finish Samoa's World Cup. The Pacific Islanders will feel hard done by this tournament given the amount of yellow cards they have received. To their credit, the yellow to Seilala Lam earlier in this match was harsh. He couldn't go much lower, the referee even pointed it out.
78'Samoa made a late attempt at a tournament ending try for them. Some quick handling means the ball moved right out into the space but a poor pass resulted in a knock on.
75'Samoa almost score, but a penalty rules it out. Story of the day for them.
72'There's not much happening in this one. Everyone is kind of waiting for the inevitable victory.
72'47-5 Conversion - Joey Carbery , Ireland
70'45-5 Try - Andrew Conway , Ireland
70'Player substituted - Dwayne Polataivao , Samoa
70'Substitute on - Pele Cowley , Samoa
70'Substitute on - Josh Tyrell , Samoa
70'Player substituted - TJ Ioane , Samoa
68'Conway again. A kick along the floor that bounces in rolls past the Samoan line means it's another score. If Samoa wanted to counteract the sublime kicking of the Irish halfbacks, they're not showing it. Very flat in the Samoan defense and they paid the price.
67'40-5 Conversion - Joey Carbery , Ireland
65'At long last! Despite a huge defensive effort from Samoa, CJ Stander rides the tackles to be the man to get over the line.
65'38-5 Try - CJ Stander , Ireland
62'Samoa have given away so many penalties that they could hold a shootout at the end of this one. It's been a very ill-disciplined performance in the second half from the Pacific Islanders.
62'Player substituted - Robbie Henshaw , Ireland
62'Substitute on - Andrew Conway , Ireland
61'For those wondering if Samoa have any chance of staging a late comeback in this one: The joyous Mexican wave reverberating around the stadium shows the fans' well-placed confidence in this Irish side. They're controlling every part of this game.
60'Player substituted - Tadhg Beirne , Ireland
60'Substitute on - Peter O'Mahony , Ireland
59'Ireland still struggling to finish off this attack. They're so close but cannot quite get the try. TJ Ioane gives away yet another penalty and, this time, he gets a card.
59'Yellow card - TJ Ioane , Samoa
57'Substitute on - Jean Kleyn , Ireland
57'Player substituted - James Ryan , Ireland
57'Player substituted - Cian Healy , Ireland
57'Substitute on - Dave Kilcoyne , Ireland
54'Irish bodies are flying toward the line again. One after another they're trying to bundle the ball over. They keep knocking on the door.
53'Player substituted - Conor Murray , Ireland
53'Substitute on - Luke McGrath , Ireland
53'Player substituted - Filo Paulo , Samoa
53'Substitute on - Piula Fa'asalele , Samoa
53'Substitute on - Paul Alo-Emile , Samoa
53'Player substituted - Michael Alaalatoa , Samoa
51'The physicality of Samoa poses Ireland so many problems in this game, but the Irish intelligence in their play often nullifies any danger. Unlike in their upset to Japan, Ireland have showed why they are there were the world No. 1 team heading into this tournament.
51'Player substituted - Ed Fidow , Samoa
51'Substitute on - Kieron Fonotia , Samoa
51'Substitute on - Niall Scannell , Ireland
51'Player substituted - Rory Best , Ireland
51'Player substituted - Johnny Sexton , Ireland
51'Substitute on - Joey Carbery , Ireland
50'33-5 Conversion - Johnny Sexton , Ireland
48'One more for the scoreboard. Murray is showing real class this match having picked up the ball from a ruck three metres out of the Samoan line. An arrowed long pass to Jordan Larmour on the touchline results in more points for the favourites.
48'31-5 Try - Jordan Larmour , Ireland
47'Player substituted - Logovi'i Mulipola , Samoa
47'Substitute on - Jordan Lay , Samoa
47'Player substituted - Seilala Lam , Samoa
47'Substitute on - Ray Niuia , Samoa
45'The Irish forwards tried to push their way through the Samoan line but couldn't quite succeed. The TV referee was consulted when Green bodies looked like they might have done it, but it wasn't to be.
45'Player substituted - Tadhg Furlong , Ireland
45'Substitute on - Andrew Porter , Ireland
43'Second half is underway and Samoa do not learn their lessons from the start of the first. Ireland make steady progress until Samoa commit a penalty for not releasing. A lineout in the corner means they are in real danger, again.
41'26-5 End of first half
40'Teams go in for halftime with Ireland the happier of the two sides. The red card to Aki will stick in their teeth, but on the whole it has been the performance they were looking for.
40'26-5 Start of second half
39'Bonus point try! Sexton picks up the ball from the scrum and makes his way over the line. Samoa should have done better to defend that given their man advantage.
39'26-5 Try - Johnny Sexton , Ireland
36'After 11 phases, Ireland almost score again, which would have meant a bonus point. Desperate defense from Samoa after some good carriers from Tadhg Beirne, Iain Henderson, and Cian Healy. For now, an Ireland scrum from five metres out.
31'Samoa have picked up the tempo. They're doing a much better job of keeping the ball and are running at the Irish line.
29'Player substituted - Ulupano Seuteni , Samoa
29'Substitute on - Tusi Pisi , Samoa
29'Red card - Bundee Aki , Ireland
28'Samoa finally getting themselves into this game. Ireland make a rare mistake with a pass and Samoa mopped up the ball. Bundee Aki made a high tackle on Ulupano Seuteni and made strong contact with his head. It's a red card for Aki. Can Samoa make use of their man advantage?
26'21-5 Try - Jack Lam , Samoa
25'To say that Samoa have struggled to keep the ball so far would be an understatement. They have had 21 percent possession and look keen on kicking the ball away when they have it. But, second row Kane Leaupepe picked up the ball from the floor and made a break for it between two Ireland defenders. Samoa got a penalty when he was taken down and kicked to the corner. After a composed lineout, the ball made its way to Jack Lam who powered the ball over the line.
23'21-0 Conversion - Johnny Sexton , Ireland
21'Ireland are well on their way to the bonus point win they desire. This time it's Johnny Sexton running through for the try from the inside line.
21'19-0 Try - Johnny Sexton , Ireland
17'A couple of excellent kicks from Murray meant the ball bounced into touch just metres out from the Samoan try line. Winger Ed Fidow quick threw to himself and almost looked to regret it with help not immediately at hand. Support came though, and Samoa got away with it. Expect Murray to keep Samoa under pressure.
17'Player substituted - Ray Niuia , Samoa
17'Substitute on - Filo Paulo , Samoa
14'Samoa looking for a big hit to get a foothold in the game. They've lacked possession thus far and have struggled to establish themselves.
14'Substitute on - Ray Niuia , Samoa
14'Player substituted - Filo Paulo , Samoa
11'Tadhg Furlong collected the ball near the try line with multiple Samoan defenders in his way. Not a problem. He bundled and powered his way through to extend Ireland's lead. An assured start from the Irish. This has looked like anything but an upset so far.
11'14-0 Conversion - Johnny Sexton , Ireland
9'12-0 Try - Tadhg Furlong , Ireland
6'A high tackle from Seilala Lam means he gets a card. Ref deemed that he did try to make a legitimate tackle, but he made contact with the head with a high degree of force.
6'Yellow card - Seilala Lam , Samoa
5'It's a scoring start from Ireland. Looking to settle any nerves from the off, a lineout deep in Samoa's corner results in a maul that walked over the try line. TMO checked the try after an official felt that back row CJ Stander may have left the maul. Referee stuck with his decision. Try given.
5'7-0 Conversion - Johnny Sexton , Ireland
4'5-0 Try - Rory Best , Ireland
2'A lot of kicking going on in these early stages. Samoa putting three men back to defend the clever kicking of Conor Murray.
1'The players are out, the anthems have been sung, and the Samoans have performed the Siva Tau. Time for some more World Cup rugby!
1'Crucially, these two sides are in Pool A along with hosts Japan, Scotland and Russia. If Ireland were to lose, then Scotland would rise to second place in the group, thus knocking them out, with a win over Japan tomorrow -- or even a two point gain if the game is cancelled.
1'The situation for Ireland is simple: Escape an upset and qualify for the knockout stage with a bonus point win against a Samoa side whose only competitive motivation is to exit the tournament with a bang.
1'Ireland have made a couple of key changes from the side that beat Russia 35-0 last time out. Outside centre Robbie Henshaw will make his first appearance at this year's tournament, while fly-half Johnny Sexton comes back into the fold after he was substituted at halftime against Russia.
1'Hello and welcome to ESPN's live coverage of Ireland's final pool stage game against Samoa. Kick off will be in 30 minutes.
1'0-0 Start of first half

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