Ireland rookies impress as penalty-ridden Fiji dominated 52-17

DUBLIN (AP) — Ireland’s fresh charges gave coach Andy Farrell options to ponder for the autumn rugby closer against Australia after they comfortably handled Fiji 52-17 on Saturday.

All eight Ireland tries came off set plays, and the result — and a 29-year perfect record against Fiji — was effectively secured by halftime, when it led 28-3.

Fiji posted historic wins in Europe in the last 15 months against England, Australia and Wales but struggled to get any rhythm. It was undermined by 11 penalties in the first half, alone, and a horrible 17 overall, and a powerful backline was smothered.

Farrell made seven changes to the Ireland XV after the muted performances against New Zealand and Argentina, to inject some life and spice into his aging squad, and they impressed while overcoming some bumps.

Sam Prendergast, the starting flyhalf in his second test, was sin-binned in just the eighth minute for a shoulder shot but returned to manage the backline coolly with soft hands, confident loops, and accurate kicking on and off the tee. He set up one try with a crosskick and converted five.

On debut, Gus McCarthy deepened Ireland’s grand stock of hookers with no-look passes and a try after two crooked throw-ins in another shaky lineout, while flanker Cormac Izuchukwu stood out with a high work rate. He would have had a try, too, but for a forward pass.

Ireland butchered three tries, and man of the match Bundee Aki was held up over the line, denying him a second try as he rebounded from being dropped after the New Zealand loss.

Other standouts were scrumhalf Craig Casey in his third start of the year, and in-form wing Jacob Stockdale, who went looking for action in his first test this year until he limped off in the 50th with a hamstring injury, putting him in doubt for the Wallabies next weekend.

“I thought for all sorts of reasons (the game) was very pleasing,” Farrell said.

“First and foremost there’s some really nice stories within our group, with two debutants and people getting a chance to get their second, third start. To get the win, play some nice rugby — could’ve, should’ve done better at times — but I thought we controlled the game very well.”

Captain Caelan Doris, up for world player of the year on Sunday, launched Ireland’s scoring with a fifth-minute try after McCarthy burst around the back of a lineout.

While Prendergast was in the sin-bin, McCarthy fed Doris again to send flanker Josh van der Flier charging over.

Up 14-3, Ireland spent the rest of the half blowing more tries than it scored but getting Casey and wing Mack Hansen across.

Aki scored the first try of the second half, barging over from his third touch in a 10-pass buildup.

McCarthy scored from a rolling maul, Hansen got his second try and Ronan Kelleher completed Ireland’s biggest win over Fiji in 22 years.

Ireland was patched together by then, with hooker Kelleher in the back row, No. 8 Doris in the centers, and replacement scrumhalf Conor Murray on the wing.

Fiji had to be consoled by tries for flanker Kitione Salawa and its youngest ever test player, 19-year-old lock Setareki Turagacoke, who was in support of Caleb Muntz for his second try off the bench in his second test. Moments later, he also received his first test yellow card.

Of the high penalty count, Fiji coach Mick Byrne said, “At the end of the day, it’s on us, we need to get better, and it’s not on the referee.” But Byrne also believed the Irish got all of the 50-50 calls because they were at home.

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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby