• Sexton scores two tries as Ireland earn requisite bonus point • Centre dismissed for high tackle on Seuteni in first half

It is not often a coach begs for leniency on behalf of another team’s player but in as gracious a press conference as you could witness, Samoa’s Steve Jackson pleaded for clemency on behalf of Ireland’s Bundee Aki after the centre’s World Cup was potentially ended by a red card.

Ireland booked their place in the quarter-finals with a resounding bonus-point win but they could face either New Zealand or South Africa without Aki, who was sent off in the 29th minute for a dangerous high tackle on Ulupano Seuteni.

Aki will appear before a World Rugby disciplinary tribunal early next week, and Jackson, whose side had just exited the tournament with something of a whimper, has pledged to make representations on his behalf.

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“I’ve known him a long time and he’s a great man and a great character,” said Jackson of Aki, who is of Samoan heritage. “He didn’t go out to do that to anybody.

“Hopefully, the powers that be can see sense and he gets to carry on in this tournament. He deserves it as much as anyone. I hope no sanction comes and we will do all we can to make sure he gets out there.”

New tackle laws designed to protect players safety have caused controversy at this tournament and Aki’s red card will only intensify it.

“Among coaches there is a bit of anxiety about it,” said Joe Schmidt, the Ireland coach. “We certainly feel for Bundee. He’s pretty devastated that any further participation in the tournament is now at risk.

“We live in hope and we will see what the judiciary decide. We know there is a very hard line being taken and we will just have to accept what decision is made.”

Ireland’s pack took control at a windy Fukuoka – gusts that were a reminder of the damage being done further north on the island by Typhoon Hagibis. Whether or not Ireland top Pool A remains in the hands of Hagibis.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Bundee Aki was dismissed just before the half-hour mark. Photograph: Adam Davy/PA

If Sunday’s game between Scotland and Japan is cancelled, then the match will be declared a draw and both teams will receive two points. That would mean Japan going through as the top seeds from Pool A to play South Africa. Ireland would face New Zealand.

There is still plenty to work on for Ireland. Their scrum was penalised when put to its first test and after Samoa got on the board Ireland’s passing became temporarily sloppy.

Ireland had the bonus point they needed to secure qualification in the bag by half-time, with two tries by Johnny Sexton following touchdowns by Rory Best and Tadhg Furlong.

The dangerous tackle controversy was amplified when the Samoa hooker, Seilala Lam, received only a yellow card for a tackle on Jacob Stockdale that appeared similar to Aki’s challenge.

Under the strain of an early aerial bombardment, Samoa were at sea for much of the first half and struggled to live with Ireland’s tempo. Step forward their captain, Jack Lam, who brought Samoa to their senses with a try from short-range.

The Ireland full-back, Jordan Larmour, constantly had an eye for the gap and scored Ireland’s fifth after the break as Samoa’s penalty count climbed. CJ Stander and Andrew Conway added the gloss as the Samoa flanker TJ Ione was sent to the sin-bin for repeated infringements.

The All Blacks or the Springboks will be formidable quarter-final opposition, but Schmidt says he has a fully-fit squad, unlike the same stage of the 2015 tournament. “We’ve got a better body-count. We’ve got 31 fit players at this stage as far as I’m aware. If, through the judiciary, we lose Bundee we have got some cover there now.

“It will be really important to recover well. This time, hopefully, we will be through unscathed and we can give it our best shot.”