Ireland beat injury-struck Samoa 40-9

DUBLIN (AP) - Ireland handed 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 improved in the last minute of the first half when Samoa center 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, adding 10 points with an extra man, had a comfort zone at 21-6.

But Samoa also was hindered by a rash of injuries. Already without five senior players, including tour captain David Lemi, Samoa saw tighthead prop Logovi'i Mulipola limp off after eight minutes, and a sickening collision of heads in the 56th ended with flyhalf Tusi Pisi taken off on a stretcher, and winger Brando Va'aulu walking off with assistance.

Tusi Pisi was concussed and Va'aulu received a bad gash to his forehead, coach Stephen Betham said.

''That performance and result was hugely disappointing,'' Betham added.

Joe Schmidt, after his first match in charge of Ireland, also wasn't entirely satisfied.

''We'll get a reality check when we look at it again: Too many line breaks from the Samoans,'' Schmidt said.

''We can't afford to do that against Australia (next). If we open up too many options for them, they will take them. Our kicking out of hand wasn't as good as it could have been.''

Ireland tackled a little more in practice this week, and the effort paid off. The Samoans hit hard themselves, as usual, but the Irish were more effective in causing knockons. They were also constantly turning over ruck ball, putting the Samoans on defense as soon as they threatened.

Jackson kicked Ireland 6-3 ahead after the first quarter a little against the run of play. But the Samoans coudn't rely on their scrum, and that headache led to Ireland's only try of the first half. From a lineout 20 meters out, Ireland mauled it all the way to the line and flanker Peter O'Mahony dotted down.

Tusi Pisi cut the deficit to five with his second penalty, then hit the post with his third attempt. Then George Pisi was sin-binned and the score got away from Samoa.

The forced departures of Tusi Pisi and Va'aulu from the collision disrupted the Samoans' backline, and though the visitors added a penalty, their confidence was shot and Ireland's was rampant.

Dave Kearney scored on debut, six minutes after he was substituted on with a pass from his fullback brother Rob. Another Gordon D'Arcy break set up Fergus McFadden on the other wing, and just before time, Dave Kearney scored his second try from another counterattack.

Samoa captain Kahn Fotuali'i was downcast at the result, especially after retired star Brian Lima led the siva tau in tribute to former captain Peter Fatialofa, who died this week.

''It was fitting to let Brian lead the siva tau because this game was dedicated to Fats, and we're disappointed in the way we've played here,'' Fotuali'i said.