Ireland to face Samoa in France as World Cup warm-up matches confirmed

This will be a stiff test, two weeks out from their World Cup opener.

Andy Farrell is changing tack from the World Cup preparations of the last two Ireland coaches. Their final match before the big tournament will be in the host country. Last month, the IRFU confirmed dates and opponents for Ireland's two home World Cup warm-up fixtures. The Grand Slam champions will first welcome Italy to Dublin, on Saturday, August 5. Ireland defeated Kieran Crowley's men in Rome during the 2023 Six Nations but needed a late Mack Hansen try to seal the result. Two weeks later, August 19, Steve Borthwick's England side will come to Lansdowne Road to pit their wits against the reigning World No.1s. There had been speculation about a third warm-up game taking place in France, closer to the World Cup itself. That has now been confirmed by World Rugby. [caption id="attachment_207037" align="aligncenter" width="650"]

Ireland and Samoa faced each other in the 2019 World Cup, in Japan. (Credit: Sportsfile)[/caption]

Ireland to face Samoa

Ahead of the 2011, 2015 and 2019 World Cups, Ireland - under Declan Kidney then Joe Schmidt - played four warm-up games. Andy Farrell has settled for three. On Saturday, August 26th at Parc des Sports Jean Dauger, in Bayonne, Farrell's men will take on Samoa. Their most recent squad contained Michael Ala'alatoa (Leinster), Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (Ulster) Chris Vui of Bristol Bears and UJ Seuteni, who is set to play for La Rochelle in this weekend's Champions Cup final. While no firm date has been locked in for the announcement of Ireland's 33-man World Cup squad, it is likely that we will know the lucky men before that game against Samoa, in France. Two weeks after that game, Ireland open their 2023 World Cup campaign against Romania, in Bordeaux.