Ireland produced a clinical performance led by fly-half Sam Prendergast as they beat Fiji 52-17 in their Autumn Nations Series match at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

Tries from Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Craig Casey, Mack Hansen (2), Bundee Aki, Gus McCarthy and Ronan Kelleher saw them to a comfortable victory.

Prendergaston his first Test start, hooker McCarthy and center Aki impressed in a positive run-out for Andy Farrell’s youthful and much-changed starting XV.

Kitione Salawa and Setareki Turagacoke were Fijis try scorers while Caleb Muntz kicked two conversions and a penalty as they suffered a heavy away loss.

Ireland enjoyed a dominant opening period as they crossed for four tries all of which were converted by Prendergast, who had an eventful first start in the jersey.

The fly-half was involved in many of his side’s first-half successes but can count himself quite fortunate to see his yellow card for a shoulder to the head of Fiji flanker Salawa with eight minutes remaining in that colour. He certainly made the most of his layoff as he returned in fine form as Ireland turned the tables.

Before his indiscretion, Ireland had taken a 7-0 lead on five minutes when a kick to the corner led to a lineout move that saw debutant hooker McCarthy feed the ball back inside to Doris who got the scoreboard going. Prendergast added the extras before that controversial moment involving Salawa followed soon after.

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Fiji came close to replying on 10 minutes through wing Jiuta Wainiqolo, but his reach for the try line outside was just short and Ireland soon made them pay.

A tap and go seven meters out saw a nimble switch from the Ireland forwards before Doris found flanker Van der Flier, who crashed over for a converted point.

Fiji managed to reduce the margin thanks to a long-range penalty from Muntz, but a yellow card to Eroni Mawi soon after put them on the back foot again.

Ireland began to spin and despite Cormac Izuchukwu being denied a try by a forward pass, the hosts would cross twice more before the interval thanks to a diving finish on the right from Casey following a lineout maul before Prendergast’s goal kick. it on a plate for Hansen in overtime to 28-3.

It took Ireland seven minutes after the restart to extend the lead and for the third time of the game hooker McCarthy was provider, this time for Aki.

With Farrell’s charges sitting 35-3 to the good and plenty of time remaining there was a danger the game could slip away from the Fijians but they refused to roll over.

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Indeed, they were second on the road over the whitewash when flanker Salawa scrambled over on 55 minutes, with Muntz’s conversion reducing the gap to 25 points.

The contest became increasingly open as a try from the back of a driving maul from young hooker McCarthy was soon canceled out by Turagacoke’s score.

But you always felt that Ireland were still very much on top and they were helped by Turagacoke’s yellow card before Casey put Hansen over for his second try.

There was still plenty of time for one last cruise and it came from substitute Kelleher as Ireland sealed an emphatic victory on home soil.

The law

Ireland: 15 Jamie Osborne, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Caelan Doris (c), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Cormac Izuchukwu, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 5 Joe McCarthy, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Gus McCarthy, 1 Andrew Porter
Compensations: 16 Rónan Kelleher, 17 Tom O’Toole, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Cian Prendergast, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Ciaran Frawley, 23 Stuart McCloskey

Fiji: 15 Vuate Karawalevu, 14 Jiuta Wainiqolo, 13 Waisea Nayacalevu (c), 12 Josua Tuisova, 11 Ponipate Loganimasi, 10 Caleb Muntz, 9 Frank Lomani, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 May 5 Mev. Vocevoce, 3 Luke Tagi, 2 Tevita Ikanivere, 1 Eroni Mawi
Compensations: 16 Sam Matavesi, 17 Haereiti Hetet, 18 Samu Tawake, 19 Setareki Turagacoke, 20 Albert Tuisue, 21 Peni Matawalu, 22 Vilimoni Botitu, 23 Sireli Maqala

Reference: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
Assistant Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU), Sam Grove-White (SRU)
TMO: Mike Adamson (SRU)

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