Ireland fulfilled slack against Samoa to close its classification for the quarterfinals of the World Cup. The incontestable victory in Fukuoka (47-5) also closed with the point of the offensive bonus against an oceanic team that could not even take advantage of playing almost an hour of play with one more player.

The defeat on the second day against Japan (19-12) had fueled certain doubts about the performance of the XV of Clover, one of the dominators of European rugby in the last five years. Instead, on the key day, Joe Schmidt's men met with remarkable sufficiency.

The dominance before Samoa was translated with the rapid essays of Rory Best and Tadgh Furlong, rounded before the break by two others of Johnny Sexton. With that attacking deployment, the bonus that cleared the way to the qualifiers was secured, where New Zealand or South Africa now await.

Larmour hopes

The only moment of anxiety came in the 29th minute, when referee Nic Berry showed the red card to Bundee Aki. The striker, curiously of Samoan origin, had made a high tackle to Ulupano Seuteni. An action without too much malice, but that left Ireland with less cash.

It was the first expulsion of an Irish player since 2016 (CJ Stander against South Africa) and only the third in the history of the professional era. The difficulty must have spurred the favorites, which did not even allow Samoa to add a single point.

In fact, the second part allowed the show off of Jordan Larmour, one of Ireland's great promises. The 22-year-old Leinster wing was chosen the best of the night thanks to its 65 meters traveled and 12 defenses beaten. His was the fourth of the seven rehearsals of a team that still needs to improve to have some option against the big favorites.

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