Ireland run Fiji ragged to record victory
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Ireland run Fiji ragged to record victory

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Ireland produced an emotion-filled performance after two sub-par displays to shut out Fiji 52-17 in their one-off rugby test at Lansdowne Road in Dublin on Saturday.

The hosts scored eight tries and an eye-catching first start at fly-half by 21-year-old Sam Prendergast also gave the home crowd plenty to cheer about.

Ireland will round off their November internationals against Australia next Saturday, with the return of former coach Joe Schmidt.

The Fijians never looked set to add a second significant scalp to their belt after defeating Wales for the first time in Cardiff earlier this month.

The home side struck early when captain Caelan Doris crossed for his seventh try in his 46th Test in the fifth minute – Prendergast converting for his first points in international rugby.

But the youngster was in deep trouble minutes later as he was adjudged to have turned as Kitione Salawa stormed down the wing and his shoulder connected with the Fijian’s head.

Fiji came close to punishing Ireland directly but winger Jiuta Wainiqolo was adjudged to have been short when he touched the ball down.

These were nervy times for an Irish team, who had been under par in a defeat to New Zealand and then a narrow win over Argentina.

Prendergast expired on the touchline when he was given the benefit of the doubt and his yellow card was not upgraded to a red.

Even in his absence, his teammates managed to be a good man, forcing the Fijians into a series of infringements.

This paid off for the hosts when Doris fed Josh van der Flier and he crossed – Craig Casey converted in Prendergast’s absence for 14-0.

Prendergast returned just as Fiji got points on the board, Caleb Muntz converting a penalty to make it 14-3.

However, referee Holly Donaldson lost patience with Fiji and shortly after the Irish kick-off she drew a yellow card on prop Eroni Mawi.

However, the Fijians’ ill-discipline continued to offer the Irish chances and they finally grabbed one when Casey went over for his first try in his 17th Test.

Prendergast made it 21-3.

The Irish rounded off a dominant first half in style.

Prendergast produced a delightful field goal kick for Hansen to touch down and the Irish free-half made it 28-3.

NO FIJI COMEBACK

Ireland pressed home their advantage from the off in the second half.

Player of the match Bundee Aki recovered from being dropped against Argentina to cross after another stylish move from the hosts in the 46th minute.

But Donaldson humbly asked the TMO if she had been responsible for the hole in the Fijian defense opening up when she fell to the ground – to her relief the answer came ‘no’.

Prendergast made it 35-3.

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell called the changes with half an hour to go, with an eye on next Saturday’s Test with Australia, sending on several substitutes including Prendergast’s older brother Cian.

The Fijians finally threatened the Irish tryline and Salawa went over for their first try of the encounter – Muntz converted to make it 35-10.

It did not herald a comeback as Prendergast’s other Test debutant and former Ireland Under-20 teammate Gus McCarthy capped it off with a try.

Prendergast converted to make it 42-10.

Fiji hit back immediately, 18-year-old Fijian Setareki Turagacoke taking Muntz’s delicious offload to go over just minutes after coming on.

Muntz converted to make it 42-17.

However, Turagacoke’s action-packed minutes culminated in him being sin-binned and that paved the way for Hansen to cross for his second try.

There was still time for substitute hooker Ronan Kelleher to cross to round off a spirited display by the hosts.

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