There’ll be far less margin for error against Aussies

Ireland 40 Samoa 9

A five-to-nil try count against a team that had averaged three a game in its previous five outings had the immediate bump to Schmidt’s tenure of lifting Ireland over Samoa to seventh in the IRB world rankings. Yet, with Australia arriving hot on their heels in Dublin for Saturday’s showdown, the mistakes made in earning victory over an under-strength outfit that faded badly as the game progressed last Saturday will need to be rectified if Schmidt is to emulate his predecessor Declan Kidney’s victory over the Wallabies at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.

Ireland never looked like losing to a disjointed Samoan side, whose pack was on the back foot from the opening minute when referee Steve Walsh awarded the home side a penalty at the first engagement.