O'Gara was in commanding form

Ireland finished off their record-breaking 14-match season with an emphatic 40-14 victory over Samoa in Apia.

Fly-half Ronan O'Gara scored 32 points as the Irish turned in an impressive team effort.

Eric Miller had a storming game at the back of the scrum, while in front of him the ever-enthusiastic Paul O'Connell put in a huge amount of work.

Ireland made one change before kick-off, as new cap Aidan McCullen of Leinster was drafted into the side for Alan Quinlan, the victim of a stomach bug.

In front of a crowd of 10,000, Ireland went into an early lead with two sweetly-struck penalties from O'Gara in the 10th and 14th minutes.

Things briefly changed when wing Lome Faatau made a storming break in midfield and released fellow winger Ron Fanuatanu to touch down in the left-hand corner.

Earl Va'a added the conversion from the touchline to give the home side the lead, but before the break O'Gara knocked over his third penalty to give Ireland a 9-7 half-time lead.

Fine move

It appeared that if any side was to improve in the second half it would be Samoa, but despite the suffocating heat it was Ireland who started the half on the front foot.

O'Gara kicked his fourth penalty after 42 minutes to stretch Ireland's lead.

And after some great continuity play on 50 minutes, the outside-half threw a dummy to deceive his opposite number and touch down under the posts.

Five minutes later O'Gara tagged on another penalty to give Ireland some breathing space and with 20 minutes to go the game was finished as a contest.

Eric Miller blocked a kick from Brian Lima and ran on to touch the ball down just short of the dead ball line.

O'Gara added the conversion to bring Ireland's lead to 29-7 and on 64 minutes he got his second try.

Late score

Substitute Gordon D'Arcy grabbed a stray ball in midfield and although he was stopped a few yards short of the line, O'Gara was by his side to score.

O'Gara completed his 32-point total with a fabulous drop-goal on 70 minutes.

The Munster man was replaced with five minutes to go, but substitute Paul Burke kicked a penalty to take the score to 40-7.

With the game all but over, the home crowd got the second try they were looking for when Va'a breached a weary Irish defence to score under the posts.

But despite this late effort, it could not take the gloss off a fantastic Irish performance as they made it 12 wins from a highly successful season.

Samoa: Fa'atonu Fili, Lome Fa'atau, Dale Rasmussen, Brian Lima, Ron Fanuatanu, Earl Va'a, Denning Tyrell, Semo Sititi (capt), Maurie Fa'asavalu, Kitiona Viliamu, Leo Lafaialii, Opeta Palepoi, Jeremy Tomuli, Trevor Leota, Kas Lealamanua.
Replacements: Jonathan Meredith, Tamato Leupolu, Des Tuiavi'i, Ponali Tapelu, Steven So'oialo, Gaolo Elisara, Dominic Feaunati.