Samoa

15 Duncan Paia’aua, 14 Ed Fidow, 13 UJ Seuteni, 12 Tumua Manu, 11 Nigel Ah Wong, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Jonathan Taumateine, 8 Steven Luatua, 7 Fritz Lee, 6 Taleni Seu, 5 Theo McFarland, 4 Chris Vui (co-captain), 3 Paul Alo-Emile, 2 Seilala Lam, 1 James Lay

Reserves: 16 Sama Malolo, 17 Jordan Lay, 18 Michael Alaalatoa (co-captain), 19 Miracle Fai’ilagi, 20 Jordan Taufua, 21 Ereatara Enari, 22 Christian Leali’ifano, 23 Neria Foma’i

Ireland

15 Jimmy O’Brien, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 Iain Henderson, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Tom Stewart, 1 Cian Healy

Reserves: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Jeremy Loughman, 18 Tom O’Toole, 19 James Ryan, 20 Peter O’Mahony, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Garry Ringrose

Sopoaga starts at ten for Samoa

Loads of changes for Ireland

Sun 27 August 2023
Kick-off 6.45am NZT
Live on Sky Sport 1

Crazy stat from Tullett (commentary team)

Since last RWC Ireland have played 37 tests

Samoa just 10, and only 1 against a Tier 1 nation

Samoa leading Ireland 10-7 at half time!

All Samoa at the start of the Second half, putting Ireland under so much pressure.

Ireland 7 Samoa 13 after 46 minutes.

Bayonne is a fantastic place to watch Rugby. Great atmosphere, noisy and knowledgable locals.

Samoa haven’t beaten Ireland since 1996. They lead Ireland 13-7 with 30 to go.

@sparky Enjoying this game, it's a good watch so far.

Good response from Ireland. Conor Murray keeps chasing a kick from Stockdale and scores. Ireland 12 Samoa 13.

Conversation missed. Samoa keep the lead by a point.

Lots of kicking in the last five minutes. Ireland looking sharper at the breakdown.

Great Samoan break.

Samoa deep on attack again,but it’s knocked on.

Huge performance from Samoa and giving so much entertainment to the Bayonne crowd. Ireland 12 Samoa 13. 20 to go!

Samoa lead the number 1 ranked side in the world!

These scrums are taking too long. If Conor Murray is taking this long to out the ball in, Wayne Barnes should give a free kick.

Tough penalty there against Samoa. Irish prop on the far side went down first.

@sparky said in RWC warmup - Ireland v Samoa:

Tough penalty there against Samoa. Irish prop on the far side went down first.

Barnes reckons it was clear to him. Useless referee.

Hugely impressive performance by Samoa so far.

Again, Barnes gives a marginal penalty to Ireland.

Ireland score off the lineout drive. These marginal technical penalties are going to kill sides who try to play Rugby in their own half in the next six weeks.

Ireland ahead 17-13.

Crowley takes forever on the conversation. Charged down. Still 17-13. Can Samoa go again?

How do you have a conversion charged down from outside the 22?

Another penalty to Ireland. These have shifted momentum in the game.

@sparky A familiar story....

Brave Samoan defence this.

Irish number 8 clearly joins maul at the front and Barnes is oblivious.

Held up. But Barnes gives Ireland another penalty.

Jack Ryan dropped that one going over the line, I think.

Ireland 17 Samoa 13 with ten to go.

What (posh) English for ‘we’ve come to watch the players not the fucking referee’?

Poor Samoan exit.

Seven minutes to go. Ireland lead by four.

Ireland going through the phases well but not doing much with it.

At last a Samoan penalty. We haven’t seen one of those for a while.

Irish player impeding defence and Barnes waves on.

Last four minutes.

Samoa with a penalty right in front with three to go.

Sopoaga kicked it out in goal………