We should have won game, says Schwalger

IRELAND proved to be the big fish that wriggled off the hook on Saturday, at least according to Samoa captain Mahonri Schwalger.

The New Zealand-based hooker was left to rue a missed opportunity to score a rare victory in Europe as the Pacific islanders were within three points of Ireland before Ronan O’Gara’s opportunistic try put the game beyond reach at the Aviva Stadium with 15 minutes to go.

Samoa had won just once in Europe in the last decade, defeating Italy in 2001, and 15 years ago they scored their only victory to date over the Irish at Lansdowne Road. However, Saturday did not join those great days in the Samoan rugby annals, much to their captain’s regret.