dyton mupawaenda
IRELAND produced a flair-filled performance after two under-par displays to trounce 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 flyhalf by 21-year-old Sam Prendergast also gave the home crowd much to cheer.
Ireland will round off their November internationals against Australia next Saturday, with the return of former coach Joe Schmidt.
The Fijians never looked likely to add a second significant scalp to their belt having beaten Wales for the first time in Cardiff earlier this month.
The home side struck early as captain Caelan Doris went over for his seventh try in his 46th test in the fifth minute — Prendergast converted for his first points in international rugby. However the youngster was in deep trouble a few minutes later as he was sin-binned for turning as Kitione Salawa stormed down the wing and his shoulder connected with the Fijian’s head.
Fiji went close to punishing Ireland immediately but winger Jiuta Wainiqolo was judged to have been short when he touched the ball down.
These were nervy times for an Ireland side, who had been under-par in a defeat by New Zealand and then a narrow win over Argentina.
Prendergast breathed a sigh of relief on the sideline as he got the benefit of the doubt and his yellow card was not upgraded to a red.
Even in his absence his teammates managed being a man down well and forced the Fijians into a series of infringements.
This paid off for the hosts as Doris fed Josh van der Flier and he went over — 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 for 14-3.
However, referee Holly Donaldson lost patience with Fiji and just after the Irish kick-off she wielded a yellow card at prop Eroni Mawi.
The Fijians’ ill-discipline, though, kept offering the Irish chances and they finally took one as Casey went over for his first try in his 17th test.
Prendergast converted for 21-3.
The Irish rounded off a dominant first-half performance in style.
Prendergast came up with a delightful cross-field kick for Hansen to touch down and the Irish flyhalf converted for 28-3.
Ireland pressed home their advantage from the off in the second half.
Player of the match Bundee Aki rebounded from being dropped against Argentina to go over after another move full of flair from the hosts in the 46th minute. — SuperSport.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter