Ireland overpower Fiji to build momentum ahead of Springbok clash

MATCH REPORT: A polished second-half display saw Ireland maintain their unbeaten record against Fiji, securing a commanding 43-15 victory in their Nations Championship clash at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

The hosts entered the encounter as firm favourites but were made to work hard for the victory after a nervy opening 40 minutes, which saw them take a slender two-point lead into the break.

Ireland were a different proposition after the interval and were clinical, scoring three tries while keeping Jake White’s side scoreless.

It wasn’t the greatest of starts for the hosts, who were dealt a major blow early on when Jamie Osborne left the park with an injury and was replaced by Stuart McCloskey.

Ireland then went on the attack and opened the scoring with their first visit into Fiji’s half.

After a collapsed maul, the Irish backs gave the ball some air, with Robert Baloucoune finding Mack Hansen, who laid it off to Tommy O’Brien, and he went in untouched for the game’s opening try.

The hosts thought they had a second minutes later when Jamison Gibson-Park snipped from a scrum before forcing his way over, but it was ruled out for a knock-on over the whitewash.

Fiji cleared their lines thereafter and got inside Ireland’s half in pursuit of their first points.

They won a penalty and went for touch, and when their rolling maul collapsed, centre Josua Tuisova received a crash ball five metres out, and forced his way over the line.

That score gave Fiji some confidence, and they started playing with conviction, moving the ball around with scrumhalf Frank Lomani, and flyhalf Ben Volavola controlling the tempo of the game.

Fiji scored their second soon after when speedster Jiuta Wainiqolo picked up a loose ball, burst up the field and offloaded to skipper Peceli Yato, who went over after shrugging off an Irish would-be tackler.

Yato hurt himself in the process and was replaced by Kitione Salawa.

Ireland, meanwhile, needed to respond, and they did when Sam Prendergast found Baloucoune all alone on the wing, and he went in for his first try.

Fiji also had a try ruled out when prop Luke Tagi was adjudged to have picked up a ball that was knocked on by his teammate from a lineout.

The Irish finished the half strong with Baloucoune completing his brace, while captain Tadhg Beirne was shown a yellow card for cynical play at the breakdown.

With time running out, Fiji went on a final attack and was awarded a penalty. Instead of going for touch, the kicking tee came out, and Volavola slotted over a penalty to ensure his side trailed 15-17 at the break.

Both teams had slow starts in the second half, kicking possession away and testing each other in the aerial battle.

Ireland then scored the first points of the half when hooker Ronan Kelleher broke off a maul on the blind side and crashed over for his side’s bonus-point score.

Fiji almost hit back after Volavola charged down a Sam Prendergast kick but failed to regather the ball, and that opportunity went begging.

The Pacific Island outfit soon went down to 14 men after a yellow card to replacement prop Inoke Ravuwasa, who made head contact with James McNabney. The debutant left the field for an HIA.

Ireland made them pay immediately, and from that penalty, they took a quick tap, and Andrew Porter got over the line from close range.

The hosts stretched their lead to 21 points on the hour mark when a bit of individual brilliance by Prendergast saw him put through a grubber kick for O’Brien, who gathered the ball and completed his brace.

With three minutes remaining in the clash, Nick Timoney scored Ireland’s seventh try to seal the win despite a late opportunity for Fiji, which Jiuta Wainiqolo couldn’t convert.

Ireland will turn their attention to the Springboks next week, and Andy Farrell will demand a lot of improvement from his side.

Player of the match: Ireland had several players who stood out, like Robert Baloucoune and Tommy O’Brien but loose forward, Ryan Baird has an impact, making hits and disrupting Fiji at the breakdown.

The scorers:

For Ireland:
Tries: O’Brien 2, Baloucoune 2, Kelleher, Porter, Timoney
Cons: Prendergast 3

For Fiji:
Tries: Tuisova, Yato
Cons: Volavola

Yellow cards: Tadhg Beirne (Ireland, 41’ – cynical play), Inoke Ravuwasa (Fiji, 53′- head contact),

Teams:

Ireland: 15 Mack Hansen, 14 Robert Baloucoune, 13 Jamie Osborne, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Tommy O’Brien, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Nick Timoney, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 Tadhg Beirne (captain), 4 James Ryan, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 1 Andrew Porter.
Replacements: 16 Tom Stewart, 17 Tom O’Toole, 18 Sam Illo, 19 Darragh Murray, 20 James McNabney, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Ciaran Frawley, 23 Stuart McCloskey.

Fiji: 15 Ponipate Logan imasi, 14 Selestino Ravutaumada, 13 Setareki Bituniyata (debut), 12 Josua Tuisova, 11 Jiuta Wainiqolo, 10 Ben Volavola, 9 Frank Lomani, 8 Peceli Yato (captain), 7 Lekima Tagitagivalu, 6 Mesake Vocevoce, 5 Isoa Nasilasila, 4 Joseva Tamani, 3 Luke Tagi, 2 Tevita Ikanivere, 1 Peni Ravai.
Replacements: 16 Zuriel Togi Atama, 17 Vilikesa Nairau, 18 Inoke Ravuwasa, 19 Kitione Salawa, 20 Elia Canakaivata, 21 Terio Tamani, 22 Caleb Muntz, 23 Iosefo Masi.

Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Luke Pearce (England), Damon Murphy (Australia)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Scotland)