Stubborn Ireland repel strength of Samoans

Samoa 16 Ireland 34

Pat Richards Christopher Irvine, Sydney

England have fallen horribly flat in the World Cup and been ridiculed for their lack of passion, courage and commitment. Not Ireland, whose appearance in the competition was seized on by local commentators as something of a joke, but who are now 80 minutes from a semi-final against Australia after a remarkable victory over much-fancied Samoa at Parramatta Stadium yesterday.

Ireland's so-called journeymen were everything that England were not in Sunday's 52-4 surrender to the Kangaroos. From staring down Samoa's pre-match war dance to the final siren, they demonstrated a fervour and raw aggression that Samoa's leading acts from the NRL and engage Super League could not match. The Pacific islanders overstepped the mark physically at times; not that it troubled minnows with a steely inner belief.

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