International Rugby preview: Ireland feels the pressure as they aim to beat Samoa and end losing streak
Ireland will hope to end a run of four straight defeats as they take on Samoa at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday 13 November.
Ireland have had a number of poor results, but two of the defeats came on their summer tour against Australia and New Zealand.
The Irish were outclassed in the Test against South Africa on Saturday 6 November and but for Ronan O’Gara’s substitute appearance, the team would have not been able to produce such a fight back.
Ireland deserved to lose by more than the 21-23 score line suggests and their forwards could not live with the strength and dominance of South Africa in the scrum and lineout.
O’Gara struck the post with a conversion attempt to draw the game, but this would have been an injustice as the South Africa forward’s dominance starved Ireland’s talented backs of possession.
Irish coach Declan Kidney has decided to play a number of squad player and makes 10 changes to the starting line up that faced the Springboks.
A new look front-row sees props Cian Healy and the injured Tony Buckley replaced by Tom Court and veteran John Hayes. Rory Best loses his place to Sean Cronin in the hooker position.
Devon Toner makes his debut at the expense of Mick O’Driscoll, alongside Munster lock Donnacha O’Callaghan, while flankers Stephen Ferries and David Wallace are replaced by Denis Leamy and Sean O’Brien.
Kidney has decided to drop his half-back pairing and start scrum-half Peter Stringer and out-half Ronan O’Gara who were influential in Ireland’s come back against the Springboks.
In the back line Paddy Wallace will start alongside captain Brian O’Driscoll in the centre, while Ulster’s Andrew Trimble moves to the wing. Luke Fitzgerald takes up the injured full-back Rob Kearney’s
position.
"We've tried to mix experience and youth in the right team to face the type of challenge that Samoa present. We've talked about developing a squad and I believe we have one now. There were some tight calls,"
said Kidney as he announced his team at a press conference.
Samoa will play their first game of their autumn tour and will go into the match as massive underdogs.
However, Kidney will be aware that Samoa will provide his team with a tough physical encounter.
The southern hemisphere side have named a strong line up and have nine European team players that include Aviva Premiership stars Alesana Tuilagi of Leicester and London Irish pair Seilala Mapusua and
George Stowers.
Samoa will look to target Ireland’s weak scrum and will play their attacking running game. The Samoan team is packed with powerful, talented players that will trouble Ireland.
However, they will need to maintain their discipline, which played a role in Connaught’s 26-22 surprise win over the team on Tuesday 9 November.
Ireland will go into the match as favourites despite their poor form and O’Gara will use his kicking game to ask questions of Samoa’s flat defence.
The Irish will be disappointed if they can’t produce a big display, but if Samoa can keep their discipline and out-half Tasesa Lavea can bring his backs into play, Samoa have an outside chance of an upset.
An under pressure Ireland should have enough quality to beat Samoa and after a tough opening hour the Irish should star to dominate the match.
Prediction: Ireland 32 Samoa 12
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