WORLD CUP SEVENS:Samoa 35 Ireland 5

IT WAS never going to be easy for an Ireland side returning to the global stage after a lengthy absence to match the consistently high skills of Samoa. In the event that was the story of Ireland’s Rugby World Cup Sevens pool match in Dubai last night against a more than competent side from the Pacific Islands. Ireland looked as though they might pull off a surprise win when they opened the scoring with a fine try engineered from good work at the contact area and finished rapidly by Cornish Pirates’ Brian Tuohy.

But then Samoa showed why they are among the top seeded nations with a display of clever sevens play, blending power, handling skills and sheer pace to run in five tries, three by Rupena Levasa and one apiece from Simaika Mikaele and Lolo Lui, the latter converting all the scores.

“This shows us that we have to learn quickly,” said Ireland coach John Skurr. “We made a good start with an impressive try, but the second half was not good. I think the boys stood off too much in defence,” he said.

Despite the scoreline Ireland played some good sevens rugby, moving the ball well at times and forcing turnovers with trenchant work at the contact area. Scrumhalf Paul Marshall put in a good shift before being replaced by Kieran Campbell, with a couple of telling breaks and a try-saving tap tackle.

IRELAND:Gary Brown (Leinster), Kieran Campbell (Connacht, capt), Brian Carney (Munster), James Coughlan (Munster), Conan Doyle (Munster), Tom Gleeson (Cork Constitution, Munster), Eoghan Grace (Shannon, Munster), Felix Jones (Old Belvedere, Leinster), Paul Marshall (Belfast Harlequins, Ulster), Daniel Riordan (Buccaneers, Connacht), Kyle Tonetti (Blackrock College, Leinster), Brian Tuohy (Cornish Pirates). Pool A: New Zealand, Tonga, Arabian Gulf, Italy. Pool B: Fiji, France, USA, Georgia. Pool C: South Africa, Scotland, Canada, Japan. Pool D: Samoa, Australia, Portugal, Ireland. Pool E: England, Kenya, Tunisia, Hong Kong. Pool F: Argentina, Wales, Zimbabwe, Uruguay. Women:Pool A: Australia, Netherlands, France, China. Pool B: England, Japan, Russia, USA. Pool C: Canada, Brazil, Spain, Thailand. Pool D: New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, Uganda.