IRELAND RATINGS RÚAIDHRÍ O’CONNOR

8 JORDAN LARMOUR

Excellent again, rarely putting a foot wrong positionally and attacking with real intent. Set up Johnny Sexton and scored himself.

1 BUNDEE AKI

A disastrous splitsecond decision may cost him his World Cup. The tackle that earned him a red wasn’t malicious, but it was reckless.

8 CONOR MURRAY

Much better from the scrum-half whose box-kicking was accurate and passing sharp, while his work in defence was important to the 14-man effort.

8 TADHG FURLONG

This was more like it from the Campile cannonball who scored a superb try and carried superbly before being wrapped in cotton wool.

7 TADHG BEIRNE

Stepped in for Peter O’Mahony and did well, mixing his game well in a hard-working display that will most likely earn him a bench spot next week.

6 KEITH EARLS

Hard to know if he’s fully fit, but the winger is certainly putting everything into this tournament without things really coming his way.

6 JACOB STOCKDALE

Like Earls, he was a marginal figure and the red card necessitated a tighter game-plan which meant he spent much of the match as a spectator.

6 CIAN HEALY

Still hasn’t exploded into life in this tournament and coughed up a scrum penalty, but he was down and dirty when his team needed him to be.

7 IAIN HENDERSON

Not quite at the level he showed against Scotland, but still quietly impressive with the lineout a particularly pleasing aspect.

8 JOSH VAN DER FLIER

Again, he was his team’s top tackler and he took one Samoan on the fly with a piece of wonderful athleticism. A good day at the office.

6 ROBBIE HENSHAW

A little rusty when it came to the skills, but his commitment was strong and he’ll be all the better from the hit-out. Important next weekend.

8 JOHNNY SEXTON

Pivotal to this team’s performance, Sexton scored two tries in an imperious display that showed he’s in top form and shape as we head for the quarter-finals.

7 RORY BEST

Another maul try, but more importantly a faultless day out of touch against a team with a poor defensive lineout. He’ll take confidence from this.

7 JAMES RYAN

He’s had more spectacular outings, but he still made his mark here with one memorable lineout steal particularly standing out.

8 CJ STANDER

Loved the physical confrontation offered by the Samoans, carrying relentlessly into big bodies and often coming off best. Impressive.

7 BENCH IMPACT

Andrew Porter (above, left) continued to hit high standards, with Dave Kilcoyne not far behind. Niall Scannell kept the show rolling, with Jean Kleyn unlucky not to score and Peter O’Mahony winning a superb breakdown penalty. Luke McGrath did well, Joey Carbery (above, right) was better with his 30 minutes and he set Andrew Conway up for his try.

7 JOE SCHMIDT

The team looked much better prepared after their rest and they adapted well to the red card. Samoa played into their hands but this was better.