Three areas where Ireland need to deliver...

This isn’t the team that Joe Schmidt envisaged naming against Samoa.

Joe Schmidt has urged his players not to be distracted by events elsewhere and focus on deciding their own World Cup fate with a bonus-point win over Samoa tomorrow.

Robbie Henshaw will belatedly begin his 2019 Rugby World Cup campaign against Samoa on Saturday after Ireland named a team close to full strength in their bid to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Ireland’s final World Cup pool game against Samoa on Saturday was given the green light by tournament organisers in Tokyo on Thursday morning but the effects of Typhoon Hagibis could still have far-reaching consequences for Joe Schmidt’s team.

Jacob Stockdale is not just refusing to press the panic button on Ireland’s attack, the wing is relishing the opportunity to right some wrongs against Samoa on Saturday.

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.

Ireland got the bonus-point victory expected of them as they took a welcome step towards the World Cup quarter-finals on Thursday but this was not the bounce-back performance required following last Saturday’s defeat to Japan.

This time four years ago, Mike Ross was trying to figure out how to impress his fellow World Cup squad members.

Ireland have not been the only ones to have changed immeasurably since that March day in Rome two years ago.

Joe Schmidt stood by his main man yesterday, backing Johnny Sexton’s decision to take that fateful penalty as an historic first victory over the All Blacks beckoned.

Ireland wing Tommy Bowe is back on course to face Australia, having returned to training with the Irish squad ahead of Saturday’s Aviva Stadium showdown.

Forget the poor reviews that follow the Australian pack whenever they play, Ireland will have to up their game at scrum-time when they lock horns with the Wallabies on Saturday, warns Irish forwards coach John Plumtree.

Brian O’Driscoll is the greatest Irish sportsman of all time, according to team-mate Fergus McFadden.

Ireland 40 Samoa 9

Even for a coach as experienced as Joe Schmidt, international rugby represents a whole new canvass for the affable New Zealander.

Joe Schmidt will have breathed a sigh of relief ahead of his first game as Ireland head coach next weekend after fly-half Johnny Sexton remained an unused substitute for Racing Metro on Saturday night.

Brian O’Driscoll says he is “fresh” and ready to play in whatever game Joe Schmidt deems fit, but admits that he would love one last crack at the All Blacks.

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt will “probably not” play Johnny Sexton against Samoa next week if his number one fly-half runs out for Racing Metro this weekend.

It’s been an eventful week, to say the least. The Wednesday before last was spent at Stade de France, preparing for Saturday’s Parisian derby. It was a lovely, sunny, wintry day in Paris, kicking balls for two hours on the beautiful Stade de France turf ahead of the meeting with Stade Francais. And then we were heading to Charles de Gaulle airport for the flight home to my testimonial dinner.

Joe Schmidt was today set to assess his personnel options for the Guinness Series as he received injury reports on a number of key frontline Ireland players.

Shaun Edwards believes Warren Gatland’s absence has hit Wales hard as the head coach returns to take charge following demoralising defeats to Argentina and Samoa.

Samoa’s victory over Wales last night has actually benefited Ireland, temporarily at least, in terms of the IRB world rankings.

Australia 39 South Africa 20

SAMOA produced one of their most memorable victories in international rugby yesterday, dealing a damaging World Cup blow to Ireland’s key group rivals only two months out from the tournament.

MARTIN JOHNSON tackled the reality of top-flight rugby after his England side made hard work of defeating Samoa at Twickenh am on Saturday.

ONE killer pass. A surging break upfield. Maybe a thunderous tackle and turnover. That is all it could take for Ireland to come alive and shake off the current blues, with Rob Kearney ready and waiting for the great leap forwards.

THERE are All Blacks outthere today like big tomcats already relishing the terrible things they are going to do to the Irish in a few days time.

A WIN may be a win, to adapt anoft-used sporting truism butlike the Aviva Stadium announcer ridiculously heralding a record crowd, there is more to the story than just the bare facts.

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.

OPPORTUNITY will come knocking for Sean O’Brien at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday afternoon and the Leinster back row knows he better make the most of his chance in an Ireland jersey.

IRELAND manager Paul McNaughton does not believe that the national rugby team have lost the backing of their supporters, despite Saturday’s disappointing turnout at the Aviva Stadium.

CONNACHT coach Eric Elwood reckons some of the emerging talent in the province will get a glorious chance to prove themselves when Samoa come to Galway next Tuesday.

Ireland Under-20s 37 Samoa Under-20s 10, Parana

Italy coach Nick Mallett is looking for the Azzurri to play the perfect game against Ireland in tomorrow’s RBS 6 Nations opener at Croke Park.

Italy coach Nick Mallett has made no changes to the squad that beat Samoa in November for Saturday´s RBS 6 Nations opener against Ireland at Croke Park.

France 43 Samoa 5

IRELAND drew inspiration for their stunning 34-16 World Cup victory over Samoa from Muhammad Ali.

Ireland 34 Samoa 16

Ireland 20 Tonga 22

Wales 34 Fiji 38

The United States have made just two changes to their team for Sunday's World Cup Pool A clash with South Africa in Montpellier.