Conor Murray dots down as Ireland win 13th straight ahead of RWC | Highlights

The result, will be be overshadowed by an injury to Cian Healy who will miss next month’s Rugby World Cup.

Ireland were given a tough test by Samoa on Saturday evening in the Summer Nations Series, but managed to grind out a 17-13 victory to conclude their RWC warm up.

Limerick’s Conor Murray was the match winner for the Irish side as his try brought them back into a hard fought contest where they secured the win in wet conditions in France.

The result however, will be be overshadowed by an injury to Cian Healy who will miss next month’s Rugby World Cup.

Please accept YouTube cookies to play this video. By accepting you will be accessing content from YouTube, a service provided by an external third party.

YouTube privacy policy

If you accept this notice, your choice will be saved and the page will refresh.

Accept YouTube Content

Ireland went over for the first try of the game after just eight minutes, Mack Hansen collecting the ball and passing inside to Jimmy O’Brien to finish off his first international try from five metres out.

Jack Crowley nailed the conversion from the right, to give his country a seven point lead.

About ten minutes later Healy would go down with what looked to be a calf injury. The forward was replaced by Munster’s Jeremy Loughman.

Five minutes from the break Samoa manufactured a try out of nothing, as full-back Duncan Paia’aua raced clear from his own 22 to score. Hansen had carried well before that, but Stuart McCloskey’s pass hit Paia’aua in the face and it bounced up for the Toulon clubman to charge downfield and open his team’s account.

Sopoaga was on hand to nail the Samoan conversion, as well as a penalty before the break, meaning his side lead Ireland 10-7 at half-time.

Another Samoa penalty early in the second-half meant they raced into a 13-7 lead.

Five minutes later and Ireland were over for their second try, courtesy of Conor Murray. The Munster man linked with Jacob Stockdale off the maul, with the winger’s left boot chipping through and Murray was first to the ball to ground it.

Crowley missed the conversion this time, meaning Ireland trailed by the minimum.

As the game ticked into the final 20 minutes, it was Rob Herring who would get the pivotal try, crashing over after some good work from the forwards.

Crowley missed the conversion again, and Ireland held a four point lead as the clock ticked down.

The final whistle went and Ireland took a hard-fought 17-13 win, making it a record 13 straight victories at Test level.