Irish must keep eye on the ball and

Coach Feek added: “Obviously I don’t want to predict anything or cause any more controversy at this stage. We will just try to back the players, trust that the pitch will do its job.

“We are trying to alleviate any concerns while we are out there but then it’s just a matter of wait and see.

“The referee (Nic Berry) will be aware of it, so that’s the key. All the communication is there.”

Winger Keith Earls was diplomatic, suggesting that the pitch would likely play better than it looked.

“It doesn’t look great, to be honest with you but actually out there, it’s flat and it’s quite firm,” said the Munsterman.

“It doesn’t feel too bad to run on. Like what Feeky said, it has been inspected and it has been deemed playable. That’s the way it felt out there.

“I suppose it’s going to be the same for both teams. We just have to get on with the job.”

Another controversy in a chaotic week, the pictures of Ireland examining the surface were shared widely online and prompted a statement from World Rugby.

“We are confident in the integrity of the new Fukuoka pitch for Ireland v Samoa,” it read. “With the stability and performance the key considerations, World Rugby and JR 2019 took the decision to re-turf the playing surface following significant wear caused by the France versus USA match after heavy rainfall as a consequence of Typhoon 17. The primary driver was player welfare.

“The tournament has dedicated nurseries where back-up turf is meticulously prepared in line with Rugby World Cup standards. While the look of the turf may not be perfect, as would be expected with a very recent installation, we are confident that the pitch will perform superbly.”