Ireland crushed Samoa 47-5 last night despite playing more than half the contest with 14 men to secure their spot Rugby World Cup quarterfinals.
#IREvSAM #RWC2019 #RWCFukuoka pic.twitter.com/ywNv0KyMmZ
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 12, 2019
No 10 Johnny Sexton scored two of Ireland's seven tries and finished with 18 points.
Ireland moved on top of Pool A with 16 points ahead of host Japan's game against Scotland today.
Scotland needs to win that game to have any chance of progressing but will have to wait until World Rugby assesses conditions in the wake of Typhoon Hagibis before knowing if the game will go ahead at Yokohama.
If the game is cancelled, it'll be logged as a 0-0 tie and both teams will be awarded two competition points, enough for Japan to qualify for the knockout stage for the first time and send Ireland into a quarterfinal against the All Blacks.
The Irish needed to ensure it controlled its own quarterfinal prospects with a big win over the Samoans and had wrapped up a bonus point by halftime.
How good is this from Japanese Rugby fans? #IREvSAM #RWC2019 https://t.co/5g3TUwc4Uq
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 12, 2019
But they had to play more than 50 minutes with a player short after No 12 Bundee Aki became the first Ireland player sent off at a World Cup.
Aki, who is of Samoan descent, was red-carded in the 29th minute for a dangerous high tackle on Ulupano Seuteni, leading with his shoulder in the No 10's face.
Meanwhile, four pool games are scheduled to take place today.
Namibia will face Canada at 3.15pm, USA will take on Tonga at 5.45pm, Wales will face Uruguay at 8.15pm and Japan will play Scotland at 10.45pm.
[Source:Stuff.co]
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