BRIAN O’DRISCOLL IS braced for a tough day at the office as Ireland face Samoa at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
The Pacific islanders, who are embarking on a three-Test tour of Britain and Ireland, are renowned for their bone-jarring hits as executed by the likes of Alesana Tuilagi and Seilala Mapusua.
The Press Association quotes O’Driscoll as saying:
We don’t have a huge amount of footage on Samoa but we do know some of their personnel, particularly the guys playing in England.
The one thing you get with Pacific islands teams is huge physicality. Their players are capable of putting a hole in you if you run directly at them. That being said, you must be aware of the shooters that can come out of their defence on occasion.
Sometimes you have to play smarter, if their line speed is huge then play the ball behind them. But at the same time we shouldn’t be afraid to play if the conditions allow us to.
There’s plenty of audio too from an earlier press briefing on the IRFU website.
Denis Leamy earn his first Ireland cap since last November. He said: “It’s great to be back in the starting line-up. It’s been a while…with injuries and different things I haven’t had the chances to play. I’m delighted to be back and it’s a great opportunity to run out at the Aviva Stadium.”
Andrew Trimble, too, is ready to take his opportunity in the green jersey while Declan Kidney says the players deserve their chance to shine at HQ.
Samoa for their part included nine European-based players in their starting line-up for the clash.
All nine compete in the Aviva Premiership or French Top 14, forming part of an experienced side hoping to inflict a seventh straight defeat on the Irish.
Leicester winger Alesana Tuilagi is among their star names and is joined by big-hitting London Irish duo Seilala Mapusua and George Stowers, who start at centre and number eight.
The full team is:
Samoa: P Williams (Clermont), D Lemi (Wasps), G Pisi (Taranaki), S Mapusua (London Irish), A Tuilagi (Leicester), T Lavea (Clermont) K Fotualii (Canterbury), S Taulafo (Wasps), M Schwalger (Taranaki, capt), A Perenise (Hawkes Bay), F Lavea Levi (Newcastle), K Thompsen (Southland), O Trevarinus (Malie, Samoa), M Salavea (Narbonne), G Stowers (London Irish).
Replacements: T Paulo (Clermont), S Lemalu (Counties Manukau), I Tekori (Castres), A Aiono (Leulumoega, Samoa), J Poluleuligaga (Exeter), G Williams (Clermont), J Helleur (Auckland).
