Ireland cruise past Samoa into quarter-finals despite Aki red

FUKUOKA, Japan, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Ireland played with 14
men for 50 minutes but still eased into the quarter-finals of
the Rugby World Cup with a seven try, 47-5 thrashing of Samoa in
their final Pool A match on Saturday.
Centre Bundee Aki became the seventh player to be shown a
red card at the tournament when he was sent off for a high
tackle on Samoa flyhalf Ulupano Seuteni in the 29th minute but
Ireland were already 21-5 up at that stage.
Flyhalf Johnny Sexton earned the bonus point that secured
their passage with his second try just before halftime and
skipper Rory Best, prop Tadgh Furlong, fullback Jordan Larmour,
number eight CJ Stander and winger Andrew Conway also crossed.
Fukuoka escaped the violent storm which forced the
cancellation of Saturday's other two matches but Typhoon Hagibis
could still prevent Japan taking on Scotland on Sunday to decide
whether Ireland next face the All Blacks or the Springboks.

(Writing by Nick Mulvenney in Hamamatsu, editing by Ken Ferris)