Manu Samoa showed that they are a threat in the Rugby World Cup as they bravely battled Ireland in the 17-13 loss on Sunday morning Apia time in a warm up match.

It was a very improved performance from Manu Samoa who played with great intensity and asked the world's best team some real questions two weeks ahead of the Rugby World Cup.

Regardless of the outcome, Samoa will take away heaps of belief and confidence from this performance going into the World Cup.

They have also left a lot of opportunities out there - there were several chances they will feel they should have taken advantage of.

Ireland were able to withstand a Samoan storm and they will be happy to escape with the win.

Despite losing the game, Samoa deserve to celebrate given what they have shown they can do against one of the world's best teams.

Wing Ed Fidow went close at the start of the match but Irish fullback Conor Murray managed a try saving tackle.

However it was Ireland who scored first. Jack Crowley spotted Mack Hansen in space out wide and found his winger with a cross-field kick, who darted down for the first try.

Manu Samoa fullback Duncan Paia'aua intercepted a pass on their 22 and ran 80 metres to score under the posts in the 36^th minute.

Then Lima Sopoaga slotted a penalty to take the lead 10-3 and that is how the teams went to the break. It was another penalty in the second half which had Samoa now leading Ireland 13-7 and looked forward to pulling a famous victory.

Samoa were winning the physical battle in the first 10 minutes of the second half as they were running straight and hard and breaking the gain-line repeatedly with their direct approach.

In the 51^st minute Jacob Stockdale scored after getting a ball from a strong Irish maul. With the conversion missed, Samoa still led 13-12.

10 minutes later Rob Herring crashed over for another Irish try from yet another maul. The conversion was missed again but Ireland took the lead 17-13.

That is how the scores stood until the final whistle.