It’s been a while since Ireland had a stress-free game of rugby, but Andy Farrell’s side had just that at Aviva Stadium as they made light work of an ill-disciplined Fiji.
Ireland scored eight tries against the Pacific Islanders, as their attack clicked to produce some beautiful scores, with some of their younger players to the fore.
All eyes were on 21-year-old Sam Prendergast as he made his first start in an Ireland shirt, and while the Leinster 10 had a poor start, he grew into the game and produced some moments of real class.
A shoulder to the head of Fijian flanker Kitione Salawa saw the rookie out-half sin-binned just seven minutes into the game, and after surviving the bunker review, he looked nervous on his return, sending two kicks out on the full.
It wasn’t long until he warmed up though, and when he sent a beautiful crossfield kick into the hands of Mack Hansen to score Ireland’s fourth try right on half-time, his conversion made it 28-3, and he would score five of his seven conversion attempts for a personal tally of 10 points.
Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier and Craig Casey had scored Ireland’s earlier tries, with debutant hooker Gus McCarthy having a major hand in all three, while he also set up Bundee Aki to score just after the break.
The 21-year-old will have been frustrated to see two lineouts go crooked, but around the pitch he was wonderful in possession, and he capped off a dream debut with a try of his own on 64 minutes, touching down off the back of a maul – the first time Ireland have scored directly from a maul since Round 3 of the Six Nations.
Fiji got in for two second-half tries, but they were cancelled out by further scores from Hansen and Rónan Kelleher as Ireland brought up a half-century of points.
In the end it was so comfortable in the final quarter that Farrell could afford to take liberties with his replacements.
Conor Murray had played more than half an hour on the wing after an injury for the luckless Jacob Stockdale, while Doris played out the final minutes in the centre, with Gus McCarthy in the back row and Aki resting himself for the Wallabies.
It took Ireland just four minutes to score, and it was the exact same lineout move from which they got their opening try against Argentina last week.
After Sam Prendergast stuck a penalty down into the corner, Gus McCarthy found his namesake Joe at front pod, before the hooker took the return ball and charged around the back of the lineout towards the tryline. While Rónan Kelleher went himself last week, Gus McCarthy popped inside to Doris, and the captain couldn’t be stopped.
Prendergast added the conversion to make it 7-0 after five minutes, but soon after he found himself sweating a decision from the TMO bunker official after he made a high challenge on Salawa and picked up a yellow card.
From that penalty, Ireland had to do some defending and were relieved when Jiuta Wainiqolo was stopped just short by an excellent Tadhg Beirne tackle, but a flurry of quick penalties and some great interplay between Aki, Henshaw and Stockdale put Ireland under the posts with a tap-and-go attempt on 14 minutes. Some more neat handling from Gus McCarthy and Doris created space for Van der Flier to dive over and score, Casey converting to make it 14-0
A penalty for Caleb Muntz followed to get Fiji on the board at 14-3, but Ireland continued to play at pace and should have scored a third try on 20 minutes, only for Hansen’s wide pass to Izuchukwu ruled to be forward.
By the half hour mark, Fiji had conceded nine penalties, and it allowed Ireland get back into the corner where they mauled for the line as Gus McCarthy popped outside to Casey (below), allowing the scrum half dive for the corner to grab the third try of the game.
Prendergast was starting to warm up now. His conversion from the touchline made it 21-3, and right on 40 minutes he showed his class with a beautiful crossfield kick to Hansen, giving the winger an easy finish to cross for Ireland’s fourth try, which the out-half again converted to give his side a deserved 28-3 lead at the break.
Fiji continued to give up penalties after the break, and on 47 minutes Ireland capitalised again. Izuchukwu showed great hands to keep an attack alive on the touchline, and quick offloads from himself and Casey put Guis McCarthy into space, and the hooker set up Aki to run in and score, as Sam Prendergast made it 35-3.
Farrell went to the bench early as he looked to wrap Andrew Porter, Finlay Bealham, Henshaw and Van der Flier in cotton wool ahead of next week’s game against Australia, but Stockdale’s impressive return to the Ireland team was ended on 49 minutes due to injury.
Fiji took advantage of Ireland’s weakened scrum, getting downfield before Salawa caught the defence napping to snipe through a ruck and get his side’s first try, which Muntz converted to make it 35-10 after 54 minutes.
With 18 minutes left to play, another penalty against the Fijians allowed Ireland get back into the corner as they mauled their way over for Gus McCarthy to score, but the visitors came straight back when Muntz stepped into space and set up 18-year-old Setareki Turagacoke to score a try on his debut.
Within two minutes, Turagacoke picked up a yellow card for repeated infringements, putting Ireland back on the attack, and a sensational pass from Casey took out five defenders and sent Hansen in for his second try of the afternoon. It was Ireland’s seventh as they moved 47-17 ahead with just over 10 minutes to play.
Ireland weren’t finished, and with two minutes left to play another excellent lineout move sent Kelleher charging over the line to score, bringing Ireland up above 50 points as the Six Nations champions blew off some steam ahead of the visit of Australia.
Ireland scorers: Tries: Mack Hansen (2), Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Craig Casey, Bundee Aki, Gus McCarthy, Rónan Kelleher
Cons: Sam Prendergast (5), Craig Casey (1)
Fiji scorers: Tries: Kitione Salawa, Satareki Turagacoke
Cons: Caleb Muntz (2)
Penalties: Caleb Muntz (1)
Ireland: Jamie Osborne; Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale; Sam Prendergast, Craig Casey; Andrew Porter, Gus McCarthy, Finlay Bealham; Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Beirne; Cormac Izuchukwu, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt).
Replacements: Rónan Kelleher (for Aki, 73), Tom O’Toole (for Porter, 47), Thomas Clarkson (for Bealham, 47), Iain Henderson (for Izuchukwu, 50), Cian Prendergast (for Van der Flier, 47), Conor Murray (for Stockdale, 49), Ciarán Frawley (for Osborne, 27), Stuart McCloskey (for Henshaw, 47).
Fiji: Vuate Karawalevu; Jiuta Wainiqolo, Waisea Nayacalevu (co-capt), Josua Tuisova, Ponipate Loganimasi; Caleb Muntz, Frank Lomani; Eroni Mawi, Tevita Ikanivere (co-capt), Luke Tagi; Mesake Vocevoce, Temo Mayanavanua; Ratu Meli Derenalagi, Kitione Salawa, Elia Canakaivata.
Replacements: Sam Matavesi (for Ikanivere, 50), Haereiti Hetet (for Salawa, 22-29 and for Mawi, 50), Samu Tawake (for Tagi, 40) , Satareki Turagacoke (for Mayanavanua, 58), Albert Tuisue (for Derenalagi, 58), Peni Matawalu (for Lomani, 22), Vilmoni Botitu (for Nayacalevu, 60), Sireli Maqala (for Loganimasi, 55).
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)