Triumph in Bayonne on Saturday evening would see Ireland go into the World Cup with 25 victories in their past 27 Tests
There’s also an Irish record of 13 in succession should they win this evening, eclipsing the dozen in a row between March 2017 and March 2018.
“We also know the threats that Samoa pose. They’re a different animal to the last time we played them. They have unbelievable coaches, the players they’ve got on board are top-class international-quality players who are playing throughout all competitions around the world, and I feel it’s going to be hugely difficult for us at times in the game.
This is arguably Samoa’s strongest team since their 40-25 win over Ireland in the first game under floodlights at the old Lansdowne Road in 1996, after reaching the 1991 and ‘95 World Cup quarter-finals. They are likely to be more competitive than was the case in Ireland’s 47-5 in Fukuoka four years ago. Samoa were playing their fourth pool game in 19 days and the fizz had gone from their rugby.
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