Rugby World Cup 2019: Ireland aim to secure last-eight spot by beating Samoa

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From Michael Morrow
BBC Sport NI in Fukuoka
Ireland need a bonus-point triumph over Samoa in their World Cup Pool A game in Fukuoka to ensure themselves a place.
The disturbance due to Typhoon Hagibis and concerns within the Hakatanomori Stadium pitch has overshadowed the build-up to Saturdays match.
Sundays game between Pool A competitions Scotland and Japan is at doubt.
If Ireland neglect to secure five points against Samoa, the outcome in Yokohama will decides their destiny.
Ireland trainer Joe Schmidt includes middle Robbie Henshaw for his participation in the World Cup after he missed the three Pool A games due to a hamstring injury.
Henshaws addition is among 11 changes from the uninspired 35-0 win over Russia with Bundee Aki Johnny Sexton, Keith Earls and Tadhg Beirne although the latter switches from lock into the back row kept.
Modifications come with the return of skipper Rory Greatest who will be partnered Tadhg Furlong and by Cian Healy at the front row.
Schmidt aim could have been to break a number of the frontline players hosts Japan in the Pool A game for the shock defeat to rip the script up.
Japan finished in a defeat samoa chances of progressing to the stages Saturday.
Steve Jackson makes two changes to his side with Teofilo Paulo and Logovii Mulipola, for his final match in Fukuoka.
Before allowing their competitors to control the match after the 30, against Scotland and Japan, Samoa have placed.
Hagibis, which will be to hit Tokyo and Yokohama, looked to be heading towards Fukuoka ahead of its path shifted, permitting the build-up into the Ireland v Samoa match to proceed as normal.
World Rugby will make a determination on whether Scotland v Japan will go ahead on Sunday morning.
In the event of a game either side will be given 2 points, which might guarantee that Japan complete as group winners.
Despite the doubt, Ireland amount eight CJ Stander insisted the squad have not been distracted by the weather concerns.
We all know our game is going ahead. We all can do is concentrate on that now, said the South Africa-born back row.
You can not examine other stuff that is out of our hands.
The question marks over the playing surface in Fukuoka, which was scrutinised by his team and Schmidt through Fridays captains run, have added yet another dimension.
But coaches and Irelands players have remained at pains to point out that although the attention of onlookers has been elsewhere, their priorities have not changed.
We will need to acquire our match, said scrum coach Greg Feek.
To be involved with a World Cup is a honor and it is really exciting to be a part of it.
You just dont want those distractions for many people to forget about just how particular the tournament is.
Ireland: Larmour; Earls, Henshaw Stockdale; Sexton, Murray; Healy Furlong James Ryan; Beirne der Flier, Stander.
Replacements: Scannell, Kilcoyne, Porter OMahony Carbery, Conway.
Samoa: Nanai-Williams Leiua Fidow; Seuteni, Polataivao; Mulipola Lam Alaalatoa, Paulo, Leaupepe; Vui, Ioane, J Lam.
Replacements: Niuia, Alo-Emile, Lay Tyrell, Cowley, Pisi, Fonotia.
Ireland coach Joe Schmidt:Weve just got to create sure our game gets completed with the perfect result for us.
We need to get out and get a result. It is a situation nobody wanted to have.
Samoa trainer Steve Jackson:What greater opportunity to finish the World Cup?
Recognizing that we are on a plane on Monday, moving house, to have a scalp such as that will be good.
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