Jacob Stockdale is on the receiving end of a big Samoan hit and the referee is looking back at the footage.

The winger is on his haunches.

Shane Horgan
Former Ireland wing on BBC Radio 5 Live

A perfect sheer round the front of the line-out, very easy for Ireland. Rory Best got his hands on the ball quickly and wasn't giving it to anybody else.

That's an area of the game Ireland have performed very well in over the last number of years. In this World Cup the rolling maul has been very good but it wasn't needed to be tested there, a soft try for Ireland.

Johnny Sexton hoists the ball high into the Fukuoka sky but Ah See Tuala does well in the swirling wind.

Samoa have passed their high ball examinations so far, but they kick possession back to Ireland.

Michael Morrow
BBC Sport NI at Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium

Events in Tokyo and Yokohama make it very difficult for anyone to truly build this match up into something more significant than just a game.

It is a blustery evening in Fukuoka but the city on the west coast has avoided damage from Typhoon Hagibis, which was initially on course to disrupt the penultimate game of Pool A.

All week Joe Schmidt's Ireland have talked about blocking out the noise. Cancellations, drawn games and bad pitches are nothing but distractions for a side who know exactly what they have to do to advance to the last eight.

Both sides exchange a couple of long kicks in the blustery conditions. Samoa find touch and Rory Best will have the line-out.

Andrew Priestley: This game has ‘banana skin’ written all over it due to many different factors. A big, physical opponent, an awful relaid pitch, lots of attention on the weather, a must-win game and the added pressure of a required bonus-point.

Ulupano Seuteni gets us under way...

Shane Horgan
Former Ireland wing on BBC Radio 5 Live

Rob Kearney has the faith of Joe Schmidt and his covering of the back field is hugely important. He's looked as trim and sprightly as he has in a number of years. Larmour's a different player - he'll pass more, he'll offload more, and it's an opportunity for him not just in this game but with that quarter-final.

He'll think that Kearney is in the box seat but the right performance today starts to ask questions of Joe Schmidt.

Samoa lay down the challenge as they perform the Siva Tau before kick off.

Ireland stand, shoulder to shoulder, on their 22.

The scene is set.

Image source, Reuters

Joe Schmidt is right, the wind is blowing in Fukuoka as the players make their way to the field.

We're all set to go, but first, it's time for the anthems.

Image source, Reuters

Speaking to ITV, Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt said: "There has been a lot of distractions and we have tried to make sure we stay focused on what we can do. The weather conditions are something we have had to focus on. It's gusty here and we will have to be measured in what we do."

On the pitch: "We have had assurances it will hold up and we have to trust that. They are good people looking after it. If it deteriorates, we will have to cross that bridge but we do not anticipate it happening. We cannot squander opportunities tonight, against a team that are likely to be more competitive than Russia."

BBC Radio 5 Live

As well as following our hugely entertaining live text, you can also listen to full match commentary over on BBC Radio 5 Live now.

Happy listening!

Shane Horgan
Former Ireland wing on BBC Radio 5 Live

The pitch is not looking too good. We saw some amusing footage yesterday when the Irish players were able to lift up massive sods off the turf and hide the ball underneath it.

When push comes to shove, as it always will when there are Samoans on the field, there will be some big earth movements! It's concerning and it's just adding to the list of problems with this World Cup.

Remember, you can have YOUR say on today's Pool A match by Tweeting using #bbcrugby or by sending a text to 81111 (UK only).

We'll be sharing your best comments throughout the morning/afternoon.

Shane Horgan
Former Ireland wing on BBC Radio 5 Live

There's a danger when we have some of these bigger players running into each other, big massive collisions, if they hit one of those grooves where the turf meets and it slides, it could cause real problems and we do not want to see that.

The Samoan team are scrummaging on the pitch and we just saw a massive sod of turf come up - and this is the warm-up, just the Samoan front fives going up against each other. This pitch is going to cut up.

Image source, Getty Images

The Irish fans are not being put off by the pitch or the conditions.

They are in fine voice as they hope to push their side to a bonus-point victory, and qualification for the quarter-finals...

Image source, AFP

Matt Dawson
England World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 Live

If the pitch affects this with all that's been going on with the typhoon as well, it would be a real shame for the tournament. It's starting to wobble a little bit.

We probably could have lost the Italy v New Zealand and England v France games and well, with healthy and safety concerns that's fine. We could have moved on with the tournament.

But if the game tomorrow being off or on fundamentally changes who goes on to the quarter-finals, it's going to be a can of worms there.

Matt Dawson
England World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 Live

I would be surprised if they do not go to uncontested scrums at some point today. [The pitch] is dangerous. I have never seen anything like it in an international match.

Image source, Getty Images

Ireland scrum coach Greg Feek says the side cannot be fixated by potential playing surface problems during their final Pool A fixture against Samoa.

The Fukuoka pitch was relaid after the last World Cup match at the venue between France and the USA, leading to concerns it may cut up on Saturday.

"Trust the pitch will do its job and try and alleviate any concerns when we're out there," said Feek.

You can read more here.