1 ZAC TAULAFOHe caused Ireland considerable problems at scrum time although facilitated by some poor refereeing. It's easy to understand why Wasps rate him so highly as he contributes handsomely around the pitch. 5/10
7 MANAIA SALAVEA
It wasn’t a game where the teams chose to give the ball some air so the openside flanker’s duties rarely strayed from the theatre of collisions around the fringes.
5/10
14 DAVID LEMI
He never really saw much of the ball but did provide one of the rare light moments when “knocking over” Stephen Ferris who fell to the ground with a theatrical thud.
4/10
13 GEORGE PISI
His strong ball carrying helped Samoa get over the gain line on the few occasions that the pack didn’t dominate the ball but there was precious little subtlety to the way the visitors played.
5/10
5 KANE THOMPSON
A favoured lineout option he was another who performed the mundane chores of carrying and tackling without complaint.
5/10
6 OFISA TREVIRANUS
The one-time Connacht wing put in one huge hit on Brian O’Driscoll knocking the ball loose on an afternoon when he was probably the most effective Samoan forward.
6/10
12 SEILALA MAPASUA
He ran a great line to conjure the bust that opened up the Irish defence. His precision pass at full tilt was equally accomplished: defended with his customary gusto.
5/10
8 GEORGE STOWERS
He was another big player for the visitors on the day, with and without the ball. If Samoa had only a little more self belief and adopted a more expansive game, Stowers might have been celebrating a victory.
10 TASEA LAVEA
The former rugby league international with New Zealand had a decent debut: his wonderful pick-up off his toes and offload was probably the highlight of a good performance.
5/10
3 ANTHONY PERENISE
He was part of a dominant Samoan scrum that forced four penalties and three free-kicks or thereabouts during the first 60 minutes of the match. Struggled when Cian Healy name on.
4/10
9 KAHN FOTUALI’I
He used his physique impressively around the fringes to carry ball while his passing was generally long and accurate; the obvious exception being the build-up to the try. A decent shout for man of the match.
7/10
15 PAUL WILLIAMS
He contributed a penalty and a conversion and was probably a little surprised that he didn’t receive more of an aerial test. It was a pretty comfortable afternoon.
5/10
THE BENCH
Didn’t really materially affect the ebb and flow of the match as several players introduced in the final nine minutes.
4/10
11 ALESANA TUILAGI
His try was a formality once Mapusua had made the line break but the big Leicester Tigers wing produced two other powerful surges on a day when the spectators were starved of back play.
5/10
4 FILIPO LAVEA LEVI
He toiled all afternoon especially in helping Samoa to try and get over the gain line. It was one dimensional though and facilitated Ireland in defence.
4/10
2 MAHONRI SCHWALGER
The Samoan lineout functioned remarkably well which might have surprised a few people. Apart from one or two blips, Ireland never got near his throw. Carried and tackled with customary zeal.
5/10
