Va'aiga Tuigamala and Brian Lima have been included in the Samoa team to face Ireland at Lansdowne Road on Sunday. Two of the stars of Samoan rugby will link up as a potent midfield combination in a team that shows four changes to the side beaten 23-18 by an Irish Development XV last weekend.

Aside from a new midfield pairing, Samoan coach John Boe has introduced left wing Afato So'oalo with just a single change up front in openside flanker and captain, Cardiff's Semo Sititi. The obvious mathematics mean that 11 of the side that played in Donnybrook will once again be in action.

That number includes loosehead prop Tomatu (not Tomato as originally released) Leupolu who was cited following a late and ludicrously dangerous tackle on Irish centre Sheldon Coulter.

Leupolu received a stern warning as to his future conduct and in fairness to the Samoan team management a serious bollicking. The absence of any ban means that he is free to play on Sunday.

The presence of Lima and Tuigamala will provide the Samoans with an obvious physical threat in midfield and demand that Ireland make their tackles in one-on-one situations.

Ireland captain Anthony Foley pointed to the fact that the visitors possess a very big pack of forwards and that they like to get the ball wide quickly.

One decided plus for Ireland with seven of the Samoan pack being retained is the manner in which the South Pacific Islanders struggled to cope with ball mauled from the lineout. It directly led to a try for Des Clohessy the last day and will be something that the Ireland senior team management will have noted.

SAMOA: T Vili; L Fa'atu, B Lima, V Tuigamala, A So'oalo; E Va'a, S So'oialo; T Leupolu, J Meredith, J Tomuli; K Viliamu, F Lalomilo; S Vaili, G Stowers, S Sititi (capt). Replacements: M Schwalger, F Lalomilo, A To'oalo, P Segi, D Tyrell, To'o Vaega, S Leaega.