The day was beautiful. The game was a disappointment. Ireland shut Manu Samoa totally and completely.

Samoa was only down 9-7 at halftime, they were even up 7-6 at one point after scoring the first try of the game, but the fight went out of them in the second half and they fell to the Irish 40-14.

Ireland played a really defensive game, kicking the ball away at every opportunity and essentially neutralized Manu's speed advantage.

However, it was really about the atmosphere. There was a packed SRO house at Apia Park despite the heat. The crowd was rowdy and everyone seemed to have a good time. The police pulled some drunk guy out of the crowd and he almost lost his lavalava which people thought was the funniest thing ever.

It's too bad this is the only game this year. I guess that's why the Peace Corps gives us two years.