Jack McGrath is one of a growing breed of homegrown loose-head prop forwards giving new Irish coach Joe Schmidt added cover in that area.

Ireland number eight Jamie Heaslip is backing Ulster flanker Chris Henry to make life at the breakdown as tough for Samoa this weekend as he always does against Leinster.

Injury-hit Samoa will be without five frontline stars for Saturday’s opening autumn international clash with Ireland at the Aviva Stadium.

Full time: Ireland 35, Samoa 8.

Tyrone Howe ends a sweeping Irish move after being fed by Staunton for the try in the corner. O'Gara added the difficult conversion as the game enters its final minutes.

Some sustained Irish pressure sees Brian O'Driscoll kick through for Geordan Murphy to touch down.

Samoa break from their own half with Sititi, who fed inside before So'oalo touched down for the five points. The visitors failed with the conversion.

A brilliant move by the Irish back division sees O'Gara throw long to Kevin Maggs, who let in Jeremy Staunton on the burst for Ireland's second try.

Ireland lead by 13 points at half-time thanks to a Frankie Sheehan try and three penalty kicks and one conversion from the boot of Ronan O'Gara.

O'Gara punishes Samoa with his third successful penalty kick as Ireland lead by 13 points with two minutes remaining in the first half.

An excellent drive by the Irish pack sees Frankie Sheehan pile over the line for the first try of the game.

O'Gara is successful with his second penalty kick on 10 minutes.

Samoa equalise through a penalty kick.

Ronan O'Gara opens the scoring for Ireland after five minutes with a penalty kick in front of the goal.

Ireland take on Samoa in a friendly international rugby fixture at Lansdowne Road today.