Vaeluaga Steve Jackson believes his Samoan side will be all the more dangerous a proposition for Ireland this weekend precisely because of the fact that their involvement in this World Cup will end, regardless of the outcome, with the final whistle.

While it is 16 years since Simon Easterby went toe to toe with Samoa, Ireland’s forwards coach knows the threats they will bring this Saturday are familiar weapons in the armoury of the Pacific Islanders.

Backs against the wall and needing a bonus-point win over Samoa to stay in this World Cup, Ireland have been urged to back their skills and go after the Pacific Islanders here on Saturday.

In the perfect world, the one the squad envisioned on the flight out to Japan, Ireland would already have their slot booked in the quarter-final by this stage.

Fiji finally found their flair as they bounced back from their shock World Cup defeat by Uruguay with a resounding 45-10 win over Georgia that sent a warning to their next opponents Wales.

Such has been the heat on Ireland this week in the aftermath of their embarrassing loss to Japan that there will be few complaints at the short turnaround from last Saturday’s debacle in Shizuoka.

Scotland have claimed all five points on offer with a 34-0 defeat of Samoa in the sweat box that was the Kobe Misaki Stadium on Monday but it took them over 76 minutes to do so.

James Ryan loved watching Uruguay’s giant-killing act against Fiji at the World Cup this week, but insists Ireland will not be complacent when they face underdog hosts Japan.

The South American minnows, who were playing their first game of the tournament, condemned the Pacific Islanders to their second defeat in five days to leave their Pool D qualification hopes in tatters.

England proved too much for Pacific Islanders, running out convincing 35-3 winners

Joey Carbery suffered a suspected broken arm in Ireland's edgy 23-20 win over Fiji in Dublin.

Ireland made 13 changes from last weekend's record 38-3 victory over South Africa, and endured some nervy moments en route to their slender win over the eye-catching Pacific Islanders.

Ireland were made to work hard at the Aviva Stadium this evening as they claimed a tight win over Fiji and a second win in the Guinness series.

WALES 23 FIJI 13: Warren Gatland insists he will remain a neutral spectator this weekend — even if Australia hold Wales’ immediate World Cup destiny in their hands against England at Twickenham.

England held their nerve in the face of a second-half fightback by Australia to end a frustrating autumn with a vital 26-17 victory at Twickenham.

Ireland 14 Fiji 32

New Zealander Pat Lam is expected to be unveiled as Connacht’s new head coach this week.

England 54 Fiji 12

Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris may see justice done for the bite he believes he received on his finger last Saturday after England hooker Dylan Hartley was cited last night for the alleged offence.

DUAL nationalities and mixed loyalties are nothing new in international rugby where Pacific Islanders can play for England and an Australian lines out for Russia but spare a thought for the Ruddock family on Saturday.

France 14 Tonga 19

STEPHEN FERRIS has been here before — at the bottom of a mountain with familiar obstacles to overcome.

SAMOA team manager Matthew Vaea has called for more Test matches against tier one nations if the Pacific Islanders are to compete on a level footing with world rugby’s big guns.

SAMOA open their northern hemisphere tour in Galway this evening when they take on a young Connacht side at the Sportsground (7.05pm).

IT’S a long way from Motootua on the Pacific island of Samoa, to Galway on this Atlantic island of ours.

LUKE FITZGERALD could be grouped amongst Ireland’s second generation of professional rugby players, in a category with Rob Kearney, Stephen Ferris, Tommy Bowe, Jamie Heaslip and Tomás O’Leary.

STEPHEN FERRIS attributes Ireland’s spiralling confidence levels to head coach, Declan Kidney, saying that the whole squad is “buying” into the Cork man’s methods.

It should have been the perfect day. Croke Park, brimful with expectation, had opened its doors to rugby for the first time but, on a historic day of outward celebration for Irish sport, all was silenced by a piece of late Gallic magic.

FRANCE go into their opening RBS Six Nations match against Ireland on Saturday week with little experience at half-back after Jean-Baptiste Elissalde was surprisingly omitted from their trimmed-down 23-man squad.

Danny Cipriani has been dropped from the England team to play New Zealand on Saturday.

GRAHAM HENRY expects “the kitchen sink” from Wales on Saturday when they attempt to derail New Zealand’s potential grand slam tour.

Sebastien Chabal believes France will need to produce an error-free performance if they are to bring Australia back down to earth on Saturday.

Sebastien Tillous-Borde and Sebastien Chabal have been drafted into France’s starting XV for Saturday’s Test against Australia in Paris.

AUSTRALIA coach Robbie Deans believes England team manager Martin Johnson has the ability to push international rugby into a new era.

Martin Johnson called on England to bring the crowd to its feet in tomorrow’s Cook Cup showdown with old enemy Australia and start rebuilding Fortress Twickenham.

Danny Cipriani has been told it is vital he “fronts up” in defence against Australia this weekend if he is to develop into a world-class fly-half.

Martin Johnson has reinforced the England pack by making two changes for the Cook Cup international against Australia.

Martin Johnson will make sure his England new boys remain grounded ahead of Saturday’s Cook Cup clash with Australia.

BERRICK BARNES is relishing the battle in prospect between his Australia teammate Matt Giteau and England opposite number Danny Cipriani when they clash at Twickenham.

Ireland 14 Fiji 30

Martin Johnson insists he does not care about his England team playing “sexy rugby”.