Ireland avoided a misstep against impressive Samoa by coming back late to complete their World Cup preparations with a 17-13 victory in Bayonne, France on Saturday, which did not really help. to highlight certain marginal players.
Ireland, who showed up with a second-tier but still formidable side, took the lead with a fine collective try finished by Jimmy O’Brien, but their touchline and scrum quickly malfunctioned under the French rain, which allowed his modest opponents to enter the match.
Duncan Paia’aua intercepted a bad pass from Stuart McCloskey to run downfield and Lima Sopoaga added a conversion and penalty to lead 10-7 at halftime.
Sopoaga took the lead to six points early in the second half before Ireland reduced errors and a Conor Murray try reduced the deficit to one point. But Samoa kept playing, their impressive online speed giving them all sorts of trouble.
Ireland, who lost prop Cian Healy to injury, emptied their experienced bench and substitute hooker Rob Herring crossed the line in the 64th minute, much to the relief of his side who survived a late push of Samoa to claim a 13th victory in a row.
