Ireland warmed up for their clash with the Wallabies by handing injury-stricken Samoa a record 40-9 hiding at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.
The 31-point margin was the largest in the rugby series by the Irish, who also prevented Samoa from scoring a try for the first time in 26 Tests since 2009.
Ireland’s fortunes turned in the last minute of the first half when Samoa centre George Pisi was yellow-carded for a spear tackle on winger Tommy Bowe.
Paddy Jackson kicked the resulting penalty and while Pisi was enduring an extended halftime break, Ireland bagged a second try to replacement flanker Sean O’Brien. Jackson converted that and Ireland had a comfort zone at 21-6.
But Samoa also weren’t helped by a rash of injuries.
Already without five senior players, including tour captain David Lemi, Samoa had tighthead prop Logovi’i Mulipola limp off after eight minutes.
A sickening collision of heads in the 56th minute ended with flyhalf Tusi Pisi being taken off on a stretcher, and winger Brando Va’aulu walking off with assistance.
Australia crushed Italy 50-20 in Turin on Sunday morning (AEDT) and now have week to prepare for their clash with Ireland in Dublin.