Ireland 20 Samoa 10:When does a slump become a full-blown crisis? It's a question the Irish public have become well accustomed to in this post-Celtic Tiger era and one which Declan Kidney and his management team may be forced to ask themselves before this series is over.
Ireland may have avoided the ignominy of a seventh straight defeat, at the hands of Samoa of all teams, but the performance failed to convince many that this is a team moving in the right direction.
Granted, there were bright spots for Kidney to salvage ahead of next weekend’s match against the All Blacks. Luke Fitzgerald did all that was asked of him at fullback, and a little bit more besides, Devin Toner provided a much-needed option out of touch, while Seán Cronin proved what a fine player he is in the loose.
But the negatives will weigh heavily on the coach’s shoulders and the reality is that if Manu Samoa had a goalkicker of real quality they could have come a lot closer to Ireland on the scoreboard.
Against game, but limited opponents, Ireland lacked direction. Time and again the scrum was demolished, and you genuinely fear for whatever frontrow Kidney deploys when the Kiwis come to town, passes were misplaced at the crucial moment and attacks fizzled out to nothing.
In front of another sparsely populated stadium – just over 30,000 were present at the new home of Irish rugby - Ireland at least made a positive start. In contrast to last weekend, when it took almost half an hour to get points on the board, Ronan O’Gara nudged Ireland ahead with barely 60 seconds on the clock.
But Samoa, with scrumhalf Kahn Fotualii excelling, hadn’t come to Dublin to simply make up the numbers and were almost rewarded for their ambition in the opening quarter. Lacking a goal-kicker of O’Gara’s quality, long range penalties were off the agenda and Lavea was forced to go for the corner.
Given valuable field position, the visitors were able to bring their fearsome strike runners into play and Alesana Tuilagi almost made it through before being bundled into touch by Tommy Bowe.
Ireland, on the other hand, lacked imagination. The sight of O’Driscoll scurrying hither and tither, seeking a gap that wasn’t there, before coughing up possession showed how desperate the captain was to make things happen
But this is a team that scores the majority of its points off the set piece and it was only when Ireland got the basics right that they profited. On 19 minutes, a neat line out move allowed Cronin to punch a hole in the Samoan defence and, with the visitors on the back foot, the Irish pack took the ball through the phases before Jamie Heaslip burrowed his way over from close range.
Samoa’s response was to march up the other end of the field and score a try of their own. Off good lineout ball, Lavea sent London Irish centre Seilala Mapusua through the gap and Tuilagi was on hand to convert the proverbial sitter.
O’Gara, who was enduring a mixed afternoon after having a couple of casual clearances charged down, then kicked his second penalty as Ireland turned six points to the good.
The first 15 minutes of the second half made for grim viewing from an Irish perspective as Samoa completely bossed the play. Paul Willams brought his side within touching distance with one penalty, which bounced over off the post, and came up short with another effort as Samoa threatened an upset.
But when Ireland did break out of their own territory, the visitors were made pay for some criminal defending. When Stephen Ferris, on for Heaslip, won a penalty in the shadow of the Samoan posts, the visitors assumed O’Gara would knock over a simple three points.
Instead, and with the Samoan defence slumbering, Peter Stringer played the quick tap and sent his outhalf over almost unopposed. O’Gara converted to earn some breathing space but, despite Cian Healy being held up over the line, that was as good as it got.
With the All Blacks now looming large on the horizon, the portents for an historic first win against Graham Henry’s side aren’t entirely favourable.
Ireland:Fitzgerald; Bowe, O'Driscoll, Paddy Wallace, Trimble; O'Gara, Stringer (Boss 77); Court, Cronin (Best 61), Hayes (Healy 64); O'Callaghan, Toner (Ryan 68); Leamy, O'Brien, Heaslip (Ferris 61). Not Used:Sexton, Earls.
Samoa:Paul Williams; Lemi, Pisi (Gavin Williams 78), Mapusua, Alesana Tuilagi; Lavea (Poluleuligaga 69), Fotualii; Taulafo (Lemalu 77), Schwalger, Anthony Perenise; Levi (Tekori 71), Thompson; Treviranus (Aiono 71), Salavea, Stowers. Not Used:Fualau, Helleur.
Referee:Keith Brown (New Zealand)