Ireland will play Samoa in their final game before the start of the World Cup.
The test will give Ireland head coach Andy Farrell ample a final chance to see who really wants a starting spot and place in Ireland's final squad for the World Cup in September.
Here's a full preview of the game to come this Saturday.
Putting in the work! 😮💨#TeamOfUs pic.twitter.com/pXmjJ2aH7H
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) August 23, 2023
When is it on?
Saturday, August 26
What time is it on?
Kick-off 7:45pm Irish-time (8:45pm local)
What TV station is it on?
Live on Amazon Prime (UK) and RTE (ROI)
Where is it on?
Stade Jean-Dauger, Bayonne
What time does coverage start?
4.30pm
Can I listen to it on the radio?
You can catch updates here
Are there tickets still available
Tickets may be found here
What are the odds
Odds can be found here
Referee
Wayne Barnes (England)
How many times have the sides played each other
Ireland and Samoa have played each other on seven occasions since their first meeting in 1988.
What is the head 2 head record
Ireland have won six of those matches, whilst Samoa have just one victory.
What happened the last time the sides played
In their most recent meeting, Ireland beat Samoa 47-5 during the pool stages of the 2019 World Cup.
Squads and scorers that day
Ireland: Larmour; Earls, Henshaw, Aki, Stockdale; Sexton, Murray; Healy, Best, Furlong, Henderson, James Ryan; Beirne, Van der Flier, Stander.
Replacements: Scannell, Kilcoyne, Porter, Kleyn, O'Mahony, McGrath, Carbery, Conway.
Samoa: Nanai-Williams; Tuala, Leiua, Taefu, Fidow; Seuteni, Polataivao; Mulipola, S Lam Alaalatoa, Paulo, Le'aupepe; Vui, Ioane, J Lam.
Replacements: Niuia, Alo-Emile, Lay, Fa'asalele, Tyrell, Cowley, Pisi, Fonotia.
Ireland: (26) 47
Try: Best (4'), Furlong (9'), Sexton (21', 39'), Larmour (48'), Stander (65'), Conway (70')
Conversion: Sexton (5', 11', 23', 50'), Carbery (67', 72')
Red Card: Aki (29')
Samoa: (5) 5
Try: J Lam (26')
Ireland's team to face Samoa
Fullback 15. Jimmy O’Brien
Winger 14. Mack Hansen
Centres 13. Robbie Henshaw 12. Stuart McCloskey
Winger 11. Keith Earls
Outhalf 10 Jack Crowley Scrumhalf 9 Conor Murray
Front row 1. Cian Healy 2. Cian Healy 3. Finlay Bealham
Second row 4. Iain Henderson (captain) 5. Tadhg Beirne
Back row 6. Ryan Baird 7. Josh van der Flier 8. Caelan Doris
Replacements 16. Rob Herring ,17. Jeremy Loughman,18. Tom O’Toole ,19. James Ryan ,20. Peter O’Mahony ,21. Craig Casey ,22. Ross Byrne ,23. Garry Ringrose
What has Andy Farrell has said
"This is a great week for us, as in mimicking the weeks that could be coming up for us in all sorts of different ways," Farrell added. "Between the Romania game and the Tonga game, the heat could still be around, which it certainly is this week.
Weather
Updates can be found here
