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Cian Healy injury blights narrow Ireland win over Samoa in World Cup warm-up
By PA
Cian Healy suffered an injury scare on the eve of Ireland’s World Cup squad announcement during an unconvincing 17-13 success over Samoa in rain-soaked Bayonne.
Veteran prop Healy was helped from the field in obvious discomfort less than 24 hours before Andy Farrell names his final 33-man selection for the upcoming tournament in France.
Keith Earls was ruled out of Ireland’s final World Cup warm-up match against Samoa in Bayonne due to an injury niggle, handing a chance to fellow wing Jacob Stockdale.
Ireland led 7-0 at the midway point of the opening period following Jimmy O’Brien’s maiden Test try.
A fine Conor Murray tackle denied Samoa an early lead before Jack Crowley’s pinpoint cross-field kick allowed Hansen to gallop down the right wing and give full-back O’Brien a simple finish.
Ireland ended a disjointed first half 10-7 behind after Samoan full-back Duncan Paia’aua intercepted a Stuart McCloskey pass inside his own half to brilliantly race clear and dive over.
Fly-half Lima Sopoaga added the conversion and a subsequent penalty.
The turnaround on the scoreboard came after Farrell’s men suffered a setback in the 21st minute when hobbling prop Cian Healy was helped from the field by medical staff in obvious discomfort.
Ireland’s performance was far from convincing, and they still trailed with an hour played.
A second penalty from former Wasps fly-half Sopoaga stretched Samoa’s advantage before Stockdale’s kick over the top was gleefully dotted down by the diving Conor Murray.
However, Crowley’s wayward conversion left Ireland a point behind at 13-12.
Replacement hooker Rob Herring claimed Ireland’s third try of the evening and they held on for an unconvincing 17-13 success.
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Latest Comments
This France team is as good as they were when they went into the World Cup as favorites. Have gone through a rebuild of confidence and rediscovered that form.
Neither England nor Ireland will trouble this team in the 6N. That’s my prediction.
And I guess about time too. Considering that France has won but one 6N title in 6 seasons despite being the best French team for generations thriving off the platform which is the Top 14.
They must just beware of peaking too soon and going to Australia over confident.
Which is also why I thinks it’s absolutely bonkers that France isn’t sending there best players to New Zealand next year. Yes, it isn’t Australia, but getting some SH travel experience makes more sense than not.
Go to commentsI'm not meaning to criticise the players, it's a professional game, this is their livelihood so all power to them. I am aiming criticism at the selectors. Italy is the perfect opportunity to give players of the future a game such as Lakai, Love etc. There is a finite number of tests until the next world cup to develop the team, we are wasting one today.
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