Easterby: Physical Ireland must wipe smile off Samoan faces

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.

Easterby was part of the Ireland team which beat Samoa 40-14 in stifling heat and humidity on tour in Asia in 2003 and he remembers it vividly, He sees comparisons with Steve Jackson’s 2019 outfit as he plots their downfall as a coach in Japan instead of from the back row.