A well-crafted, workmanlike 35-8 victory over a strong Samoa side was just reward for an efficient if unspectacular Ireland Test performance at Lansdowne Road in Dublin.
Tries from Irish hooker Frankie Sheahan, Munster colleague Jeremy Staunton, Geordan Murphy and a late Tyrone Howe effort did the ultimate damage while Wellington's Steven So'oialo replied for Samoa.
Following the game Leinster and Lions centre Brian O'Driscoll said: "The game was not surprisingly very physical. I'm glad we got through it unscathed. Samoa really put it up to us and we struggled with our game plan a bit especially in the first half."
Three O'Gara first half penalties and a try by Munster No.2 Sheahan, his first in his five appearances for Ireland, also converted by provincial colleague O'Gara, was enough to give the home side a comfortable if slightly flattering 16-3 half-time lead.
Worcester stand-off Earl Va'a had sent an equalising penalty after eight minutes which was the nearest a Samoa XV, including eight new caps, got to Ireland throughout though they did threaten the try line on a number of occasions.
Sheahan's try was not particular beautiful but it was efficient as Ulster's Gary Longwell gathered a line-out five metres from the whitewash and a fine maul was finished off by a diving Sheahan.
Swansea back Brian Lima nearly scored a terrific breakaway try with the last move of an uninspiring first 40, but was brought down by Irish debutant Staunton yards from the line.
Following a conservative opening half, Ireland changed their game plan after the interval and it paid dividends almost immediately with Staunton capping his debut with a fine well-worked try.
Leicester's Murphy gathered another poor Va'a kick and set a sweeping team move in motion. Following good work from elder statesman Mick Galwey the ball was fed out to the backs and Bath's Kevin Maggs. Maggs passed to Stauton, coming at an angle, to touch down.
The try of the match though was Samoa's. Their captain Semo Sititi broke free of powder puff Irish rearguard after another penalty and passed to Lome Faatau. Faatau made some extra yards but seemed to take an age before offloading to So'oialo and the Wellington wing dashed over in the left corner. Unfortunately Va'a's replacement, Silao Leaega, could fare little better with the boot and missed the conversion attempt.
This seemed to spur Ireland into life and two tries in the last quarter put a better gloss on a mediocre team performance. Again another sweeping move right across the back line involving Munster half-backs, Stringer and O'Gara, ended when a delightful O'Driscoll chip bounced perfectly for Murphy who exerted downward pressure on the ball ahead of the massive Va'aiga Tuigamala.
Ireland's fourth try was a real beauty. The Irish back line moved the ball right across from right to left. O'Gara span the ball to Murphy who immediately fed Staunton. The 21-year-old saw Howe unmarked on the left flank, and the Ulster No.11 flew airborne over the white wash. An excellent O'Gara conversion from the sideline sealed Ireland's third successive Test win.
Man of the match: Difficult to highlight one player who stood out for either side. Samoa skipper Sititi was always at the forefront of most of the Samoan best moves. However Brian O'Driscoll showed after the break why he is one of the most exciting players about at the moment particularly with his sublime chip for Murphy's try.
Moment of the match: The Samoa try ran the whole length of the Lansdowne Road turf from their own 22. Sititi, Faatau and try scorer So'oala combined beautifully to put the tourists back into the game until Murphy's try but the game beyond their reach.
Villain of the match: Referee Iain Ramage. He wanted to take centre stage in Dublin. The Scot's fondness of the whistle put paid to this contest as a spectacle for the fans. One interruption with O'Gara about to dash over the whitewash was simply incomprehensible.
Sin-bin: Tomato Leupolu 1 min
The Teams:
Ireland: 1 John Hayes, 2 Frankie Sheahan, 3 Emmet Byrne, 4 Mick Galwey, 5 Gary Longwell, 6 Kieron Dawson, 7 Eric Miller, 8 Anthony Foley (c), 9 Peter Stringer, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 11 Tyrone Howe, 12 Brian O'Driscoll, 13 Kevin Maggs, 14 Geordan Murphy, 15 Jeremy Staunton
Reserves: Peter Clohessy, Simon Easterby, Guy Easterby, Mike Mullins, Trevor Brennan
Unused: Barry Everitt, Keith Wood
Samoa: 1 Jeremy Tomuli, 2 Jonathan Meredith, 3 Tamato Leupolu, 4 Opeta Palepoi, 5 Kitiona Viliamu, 6 Semo Sititi (c), 7 Siaosi Vaili, 8 George Stowers, 9 Stephen So'oilao, 10 Earl Va'a, 11 Lome Fa'atau, 12 Brian Lima, 13 Inga Tuigamala, 14 Afato So'oalo, 15 Tanner Vili
Reserves: Fa'amaoni Lalomilo, Silao Leaega, Patrick Segi, Filipo Toala, To'o Vaega
Referee: Iain Ramage (Scotland)
Touch-judges: Robert Davies (Wales) & Chris White (England)
Points Scorers:
Ireland
Tries: Howe T.G. 1, Staunton J. 1, Murphy G.E.A. 1, Sheahan F.J. 1
Conv: O'Gara R.J.R. 3
Pen K.: O'Gara R.J.R. 3
Samoa
Tries: So'oalo A. 1
Pen K.: Va'a E.V. 1
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