Manu Samoa ... 14 Ireland ... 40: The mercury nudged 98 degrees, with the humidity appreciable even on the short walk from the turnstile to the stand. What Ireland achieved in Apia Park was a momentous result that compares with anything they achieved this season in 11 previous victories. John O'Sullivan reports from Samoa.
Tactically astute, they executed the gameplan with clinical precision in the second 40 minutes, reducing Samoa to a cast of individuals.
But Ireland's victory was coloured by the extreme conditions which were bordering on the dangerous.
Aidan McCullen lost a stone in weight, while most players lost about half a stone. Jonathan Bell and Anthony Horgan suffered severe heat stroke, and there were several players not far behind in terms of acute dehydration. Some 36 hours after the match Bell and Horgan were still suffering from their exertions.
Horgan, making his debut, had to be replaced after 52 minutes because he had become completely disorientated on the pitch. Fellow redhead Bell showed tremendous courage in playing virtually to the end, but he was hugely distressed afterwards.
The International Board (IRB) will have to re-examine the ludicrous rules regarding providing water for players when the heat is that extreme. The referee, New Zealander Paul Honiss, was irate at half-time because Ireland's water carriers intruded at every opportunity, travelling farther onto the pitch than the allotted 15 metres.
In mitigation, he was simply applying the laws, and even in that respect was extremely lenient.
Ireland's coach, Eddie O'Sullivan, wasn't being in the least melodramatic when he ventured: "Some player is going to die in those conditions. It happens in American football every year and it is going to happen in rugby at some point, and today is a classic example of what could happen. Anthony (Horgan) didn't know what day it was."
This Test match was a salutary lesson and one the IRB would be foolish to ignore.
But this shouldn't overshadow what was a brilliant victory. Excuses were ready-made and gift-wrapped: sweltering heat and humidity, and a Samoan side that had enjoyed an excellent recent tour of Australia and New Zealand.
When Ireland staggered, dazed, to the dressing-room leading 9-7 at the interval, they could have been forgiven for hiding under cold, soaked towels. McCullen, making his debut following a midday call-up to replace tummy bug victim Alan Quinlan, admitted: "I was like a newborn foal running out for the second half, my legs belonged to someone else. I was staggering from side to side and dizzy. Conditions were absolutely unbelievable."
Three players - McCullen, Horgan and Paul Shields - won a first cap on a memorable afternoon that heralded an Irish points-scoring record. Ronan O'Gara notched 32 points, including a couple of tries, though some poor kicking out of hand in the first half was completely at odds with his contribution on the scoreboard.
In mitigation, Samoa kept their back three lying deep, and this meant that punting had to be extremely accurate.
After the interval the Munster outhalf banished the errors to control the game superbly. His drop goal on 70 minutes appeared to suggest he knew the record was on at that juncture.
"It's funny," he laughed, "but Deccie (Declan Kidney) accused me of that straight after the match, but I'd no idea of what I'd scored. It was a very strange day, in terms of how draining it was. It was the worst conditions that any of us have ever played in. The first half we were like zombies; it was impossible to even think.
"One or two line kicks were poor. I've listened to soccer players going on about Orlando '94, and you're saying to yourself that it couldn't possibly be that bad. Today was incredible, there was no oxygen to be consumed. It was just ridiculous, so hard to function.
"I knew that Jonathan Bell was suffering unbelievably. I was just as bad. There were stages when you'd be offering yourself little rags of hope, like 'are we coming off?' It was so difficult to operate in those conditions. We just had to hang in there.
"The mental toughness that we showed is a marked improvement in a lot of people's games. It was so, so painful playing in that first half."
His first try was a characteristic show of the ball before gliding through a gap and making the line; the second was a product of great hands to catch a ball at ankle level and dive over.
"I was very happy I held that. It could have been a simpler pass from Darce (Gordon D'Arcy)," he laughed. "I was so happy to maintain concentration."
O'Gara kicked seven from nine attempts, but despite dominating Ireland's scoring statistics he would be the first to acknowledge the outstanding contributions of Eric Miller and Paul O'Connell, both superb on the day, Simon and Guy Easterby and the midfield partnership of Bell and Mike Mullins.
Donncha O'Callaghan also showed prominently after replacing the luckless Leo Cullen (dislocated shoulder) after 17 minutes.
Samoa showed flashes of their dexterous handling game in the first half, but still trailed 9-7 to O'Gara penalties.
On the resumption, Ireland resolved to control the ball and maintain field position, with O'Gara pinning the home side back with long, raking kicks to touch. Ireland defended superbly and preyed on Samoan mistakes borne of desperation.
While O'Gara grabbed a brace of tries, Miller claimed a third when he charged down Brian Lima's intended clearance and beat everyone to the touchdown, capping a brilliant display.
O'Gara's boot kept the scoreboard ticking over and Ireland suffocated Samoa's ambition.
It was a high note on which to finish the tour and the season; 12 victories in 14 matches and a few pieces closer to completing the jigsaw. To progress and realise ambitions in the World Cup, Ireland must learn to function effectively under extreme conditions. This Test offered a glimmer of hope that they could.
SCORING SEQUENCE
9 mins: O'Gara penalty, 0-3; 14: O'Gara penalty, 0-6; 16: Fanuatanu try, Va'a conversion, 7-6; 32: O'Gara penalty, 7-9. Half-time: 7-9. 42: O'Gara penalty, 7-12; 50: O'Gara try, O'Gara conversion, 7-19; 55: O'Gara penalty, 7-22; 60: Miller try, O'Gara conversion, 7-29; 64: O'Gara try, 7-34; 70: O'Gara drop goal, 7-37; 78: Burke penalty, 7-40; 82: Va'a try, Va'a conversion, 14-40.
MANU SAMOA: F Fili; L Fa'atu, D Rasmussen, B Lima, R Fanuatanu; E Va'a, D Tyrell; K Lealamanua, T Leota, J Tomuli; O Palepoi, L Lafaialii; K Viliamu, S Sititi (capt), M Fa'asavalu. Replacements: T Leupolu for Tomuli (44 mins), S So'oialo for D Tyrell (51 mins), J Meredith for Leota (65 mins), D Tuiavi'I for Viliamu (70 mins), G Elisara for Resmussen (74 mins).
IRELAND: G Dempsey (Leinster); J Kelly (Munster), M Mullins (Munster), J Bell (Ulster) A Horgan (Munster); R O'Gara (Munster), G Easterby (Rotherham); M Horan (Munster), S Byrne (Leinster), R Corrigan (Leinster, capt); L Cullen (Leinster), P O'Connell (Munster); S Easterby (Llanelli), E Miller (Leinster), A McCullen (Leinster).
Replacements: G D'Arcy (Leinster) for Kelly (13-20 mins), D O'Callaghan (Munster) for Cullen (17 mins), G D'Arcy (Leinster) for Horgan (52 mins), P Shields (Ulster) for Byrne (70 mins), E Byrne (Leinster) for Corrigan (70 mins), B O'Meara (Leinster) for G Easterby (74 mins), P Burke (Harlequins) for O'Gara (74 mins), D Wallace (Munster) for Bell (78 mins).
Referee: P Honiss (New Zealand).
