Rueful Aki sees red as Ireland enjoy Samoan stroll in Fukuoka

The odds on Ireland remaining visible in the tournament beyond next weekend are long

Bundee Aki of Ireland is disconsolate after his first-half sending-off against Samoa at the Rugby World Cup in Fukuoka yesterday Pic: Getty

With a flick of a button, someone changed the mood music, the despair of Shizuoka making way for songs of praise in Fukuoka. Driven by the passionate support of thousands of their fellow citizens, Ireland took a step towards redemption, playing as impressively here as they did during their record-breaking year in 2018.

But their propensity for making life difficult for themselves was also apparent when Bundee Aki was shown a red card ...