Ireland continuing to develop satisfactorily

For watching Ireland coach Warren Gatland this match will have exacerbated one or two concerns, not relating to the quality or the Samoan side, but to the legality of some of their tackling - there's late and there's dangerously late.

French referee Joel Jutge was remarkably indulgent, despite sending four players to the sin bin. Three of the four were given the 10 minutes for technical offences, while Samoan hooker Jonathan Meredith was dismissed for a late tackle on Des Clohessy. It is the offences that went unpunished that will worry Gatland.

Prop Tomato Leupolu's lunge at Sheldon Coulter was late, neck high and didn't involve any arms as he simply threw his considerable weight in the Irish's centre's direction after the ball had gone: it warranted a straight red card. Irish outhalf Andy Dunne was twice hit late and required treatment on both occasions.

The Ireland Development XV deserve great credit for overturning a 10-point deficit, 18-8 in the closing half an hour.

None epitomised that spirit more than the superb Donncha O'Callaghan, ably abetted by John Fogarty (lineout throwing not withstanding) and indeed the entire Irish pack, including second half replacements Mick O'Driscoll and Martin Cahill. Scrumhalf Kieron Campbell had a fine game defensively, while Dunne scored one try and made another.

Ireland's midfield partnership of Killian Keane and Coulter was also wonderfully resolute, while the back three all enjoyed some good moments.

Ireland led 8-3 at the interval through a try and a penalty from Dunne to a penalty from Samoan centre To'o Vaega. It was the visitors who started quickly on the resumption. With the home side down to 14 men Leupolu crashed over from close range, with Vaega converting. It followed an excellent passage of continuity.

Vaega kicked a fine long range penalty on 47 minutes and two minutes later fellow centre Silao Leaaga raced through a gap on the Irish 22 to grab a try. An O'Driscoll take in a lineout on the Samoan 22 was mauled all the way to the line with Des Clohessy claiming the try. Dunne's superb break and timely offload allowed Coulter to cross under the posts and with the outhalf requiring attention, Keane kicked the conversion. A late penalty from the latter rounded off a good afternoon for the Development XV.

Scoring sequence: 2 mins: Dunne try, 5-0; 20: Vaega pen, 5-3; 42: Dunne pen, 8-3. Half-time: 8-3. 43: Leupolu try, Vaega con, 8-10; 47: Vaega pen, 8-13; 49: Leaega try, 8-18; 60: Clohessy try, 13-18; 68: Coulter try, Keane con, 20-18; 80: Keane penalty, 23-18.

IRELAND: D O'Sullivan; J McWeeney, S Coulter, K Keane, S Keogh; A Dunne, K Campbell; D Clohessy, J Fogarty, P Wallace; D O'Callaghan, A Kearney; L Toland (capt), A McCullen, C McMahon. Replacements: M Cahill for C McMahon (33-43 mins); M Cahill for Wallace (69); M O'Driscoll for Kearney (51).

SAMOA: T Vili; L Fa'atau, T Vaega, S Leaega (capt), G Harder; E Va'a, S So'oialo; T Leupolu, J Meredith, J Tomuli; O Palepoi, K Viliamu; S Vaili, G Stowers, P Segi. Replacements: M Schwalger for Vaili (65-75 mins) and for Meredith (75); A Toala for Stowers (75).

Yellow cards: P Wallace (Ireland) (32-42 mins); K Keane (Ireland) (56-66); J Meredith (Samoa) (65-75); T Vili (Samoa) (75).

Referee: J Jutge (France)