Ireland showcased their most impressive performance of the autumn internationals with a commanding 52-17 win against Fiji in Dublin. Following a loss to New Zealand and a closely contested victory over Argentina, the Irish team made several changes and took control of the match from the outset.
Captain Caelan Doris opened the scoring with his seventh try just four minutes into the game, and Prendergast converted, marking his first points in international rugby. Shortly after, however, Prendergast was yellow-carded for an infringement, but Ireland managed to maintain their momentum, leading to Josh van der Flier’s try and a 14-0 score.
Fiji had opportunities to respond, but the Irish defense held firm. The visitors did manage to get on the board with a penalty from Caleb Muntz, making it 14-3. Referee Holly Donaldson showed her frustration with Fiji’s discipline, leading to another yellow card for prop Eroni Mawi, which contributed to Ireland capitalizing on their advantage.
The hosts extended their lead when Craig Casey scored, bringing the score to 21-3, and finished a dominant first half with another try from Hansen, converted by Prendergast for a 28-3 scoreline.
As the second half began, Ireland continued to apply pressure with player of the match Bundee Aki scoring in the 46th minute. Midway through the half, Fiji finally found the try zone, scoring through Salawa, but it was not enough to shift the momentum.
Notably, debutant Gus McCarthy added to the score for Ireland, followed by Turagacoke’s immediate response from Fiji. However, the game concluded with Ireland pushing forward, with Hansen scoring his second try, and Ronan Kelleher adding another as the final score settled at 52-17.
This performance revitalizes Ireland’s confidence as they prepare for their next test against Australia, demonstrating their ability to bounce back and perform at a high level against strong opposition.
Overall, this match highlights Ireland’s offensive depth and ability to adapt under pressure, setting a positive tone for future fixtures.
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