Sluggish Ireland labour to tame Fiji

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER

Ireland…………………………. 35pts

Tries: Timoney 15, 20; Baloucoune 25, Hansen 61, Healy 74

Conversions: Carbery 15, 21, 26; Crowley 62, 76

Fiji………………………………….. 17pts

Tries: Ravouvou 4, Kuruvoli 64

Conversions: Tela 5, Volavola 64

Penalties: Tela 23

IRELAND, the number one ranked side in the world, made hard work of beating Fiji and will have to crank it up next week when they play an Australia side smarting from defeat in Italy.

It was all a bit loose from Ireland in the opening couple of minutes and Fiji picked up the vibe with an absolutely belting long distance try from Kalaveti Ravouvou after quick hands right to left and a strong run down the left flank from Vinaya Habosi.

Teti Tela converted but Ireland took the warning shot on board and immediately tightened their game plan, especially as the early departure of Robbie Henshaw through injury required a quick reset and rethink.

Nick Timoney, in great form these days and looking to nail down a place in Ireland's Gun XV, led the charge by forcing his way over for Ireland's first try and Ulster colleague Kieran Treadwell was denied shortly afterwards by Levania Botia who had somehow prevented the big lock from touching down. Miraculous work from the Fiji flanker.

The wind was with Ireland now though and that man Timoney forced his way over for a second try soon after, this time from a lineout rumble which also saw Manasa Saulo yellow carded for persistent offending. He is a big strong unit and is making quite an impact this season.

Fiji were still contesting the issue though and putting the big hits and a period of pressure earned a penalty shot for Tela which he slotted but there was more pressure for the islanders to soak up before the break.

An excellent turnover in midfield, with Tadhg Furlong reacting like a fly-half to gather and deftly pass on in an instant, saw Ireland attacking in numbers. Initially Jimmy O'Brien went close although there was just a suggestion he might have crawled on the ground after being tackled.

No matter. Jamison Gibson-Park played on and having spotted Robert Baloucoune unmarked on the right wing fired out one of his trademark long passes as Ireland completed the simplest of scores. The TMO double checked on O'Brien and found in his favour.

Ireland were threatening to disappear out of sight at this stage but Fiji did manage to batten down the hatches a little and prevent any further score before the break. Indeed they made 144 tackles in the first half, a marathon effort.

Life didn't get any easier in the first 10 minutes of the first half as Fiji's discipline deserted them. Albert Tuisue laid out Joey Carbery with a reckless no-arms tackle and, although if you were splitting hairs you could claim he made first contact with Carbery's chest and not head, it was a bad challenge. Red all day long. Just to make matters worse, moments later replacement lock Apisalome Ratuniyarawa, collapsed a maul and copped a yellow.

It was messy and Botia departed soon after having taken a knock but somehow Fiji stayed in the contest. In fact, they did more than that and Ireland began to huff and puff and for the first time in a while look very ordinary. Only right at the very end of the period in which Fiji has only 13 men did the Irish strike for their fourth try, a well taken effort by Mack Hansen after the underpowered Fiji scrum broke up and Craig Casey sent him away in the corner.

Fiji continued to show some ticker though and a wondrous run and out the back offload by Jiuta Wainiqolo fashioned a try for Simione Kuruvoli.

Entertaining stuff but they were tiring and replacement Cian Healy buried any thoughts of an heroic comeback with his ninth Test try – in 120 appearances – but the celebrations were muted on the final whistle.