Ireland 20 - 10 Samoa

Facing a team ranked outside the world's top ten, they toiled woefully in the third quarter. Had Samoa made better use of their enormous superiority in possession and territory, Declan Kidney's side would surely have been facing a second defeat of the month.

The Irish scrum, anchored by props John Hayes and Tom Court, were overwhelmed in a department where they were supposed to have the ascendancy. It was only when Cian Healy and Rory Best came on that the set-piece was shored up and it was this change in fortunes that preceded O'Gara's try.

The Pacific Cup holders' Haka was greeted by only a 30,955 crowd at Aviva Stadium with pre-match fears of another low attendance proving correct.

O'Gara settled Irish nerves with a penalty moments into the game but it was due to sound defence from Tommy Bowe that their lead was not immediately overturned.

A fine tackle saw Bowe fell Tuilagi as the Leicester winger charged for the left corner, thwarting a strong attack from Samoa.

Brian O'Driscoll ran down several blind alleys before knocking on, victim of some typically robust tackling from the South Sea Islanders.

It was a competitive, finely-balanced opening quarter that was lit up when Ireland broke from their 22 through side-stepping full-back Luke Fitzgerald. Their tails up, the Irish renewed the assault and were rewarded when a series of pick and goes concluded with Heaslip driving over. O'Gara converted.

Samoa's response was emphatic with a second penalty enabling them to set up a superb field position.

A great pick up by fly-half Tasesa Lavea and rapid hands from Seilala Mapusua released Tuilagi, who came marauding off his wing to cross under the posts with Lavea converting.

With five minutes of the half remaining Ireland were back in the opposition 22 and, spying space on the left, O'Gara expertly changed the points of attack but ruined his quick thinking with a stray pass.

The start of the second half saw some anxious moments for Ireland who could not escape their 22. O'Driscoll eventually cleared but Samoa were soon back on the offensive, reducing the deficit to 13-10 with Lavea's first penalty.

For all their possession, Samoa were struggling to trouble the scoreboard, and this time when Ireland escaped their 22 they struck.

A quick free kick saw Stringer pass to O'Gara, who jinked his way over the line in the 66th minute before improving his own try.

The fight had all but drained out of Samoa but the Islanders' pride prevented Ireland scoring again.

Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Heaslip, O'Gara. Cons: O'Gara 2. Pens: O'Gara 2. Samoa: Try: Tuilgai. Cons: Lavea. Pens: Williams.Ireland: Fitzgerald; Bowe, O'Driscoll (capt), Wallace, Trimble; O'Gara, Stringer; Court, Cronin, Hayes, O'Callaghan, Toner, Leamy, O'Brien, Heaslip.

Samoa: Williams, Lemi, Pisi, Mapusua, Tuilagi, Lavea, Fotualii, Taulafo, Schwalger (capt), Perenise, Levi, Thompsen, Trevarinus, Salavea, Stowers.

Referee: K Brown (New Zealand).