As it happened: Ireland v Fiji, Nations Championship

13 hrs ago 7:22PM

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of tonight’s Nations Championship meeting between Ireland and Fiji.

Kick-off at Aviva Stadium is at 8.10pm, and we’ll bring you all the action as it happens.

13 hrs ago 7:35PM

Here’s a reminder of how the two sides line out. Andy Farrell has made seven changes from last weekend’s win against Argentina, as Mack Hansen moves to fullback and Nick Timoney shift to number eight.

Ulster’s James McNabney is in line to win his first cap off the bench.

IRELAND: Mack Hansen; Robert Baloucoune, Jamie Osborne, Bundee Aki, Tommy O’Brien; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong; James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne (captain); Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Nick Timoney.

Replacements: Tom Stewart, Tom O’Toole, Sam Illo, Darragh Murray, James McNabney, Craig Casey, Ciarán Frawley, Stuart McCloskey.

FIJI: Ponepati Loganimasi; Selestino Ravutaumada, Setareki Bituniyata, Josua Tuisova, Jiuta Wainiqolo; Ben Volavola, Frank Lomani; Peni Ravai, Tevita Ikanivere, Luke Tagi; Joseva Tamani, Isoa Nasilasila; Mesake Vocevoce, Lekima Tagitagivalu, Peceli Yato (captain).

Replacements: Zuriel Togiatama, Vilikesa Nairau, Inoke Ravuiwasa, Kitione Salawa, Elia Canakaivata, Terio Tamani, Caleb Muntz, Iosefo Masi.

13 hrs ago 7:38PM

And if you’d like to learn a little more about McNabney, you can find an interview with his former coach at City of Armagh RFC here.

“James was fantastic when he kitted out for us. His commitment was a huge thing, you could see that this guy had a lot of very good attributes that would allow him to progress, and I think from when he joined Armagh, everyone knew we weren’t going to see too much of James for too long, this was just going to be a small stepping stone on the way to an awful lot bigger things, and that we would enjoy his appearances while he was with us.

“He pretty much won us a game down in Terenure by himself, especially in the second half, just with his ball-carrying and making line breaks.”

13 hrs ago 7:39PM

You can also read Murray Kinsella’s match preview here.

The reality is that Farrell has gone nearly as strong as possible for this clash with the Fijians, currently ranked ninth in the world. The Ireland head coach wants as big a bonus-point win as possible to improve his team’s Nations Championship standing, and he also wants them to build more momentum ahead of next weekend’s vital clash with the Springboks.

In some ways, the visit of South Africa to Dublin is Ireland’s true ‘final’ this month. It feels like that game has the greatest significance in the build-up to next year’s World Cup.

This selection also underlines that Farrell has a good sense of the group of players he wants to drive on with towards the World Cup. With only eight games left until the warm-up games before that tournament, time is running out.

13 hrs ago 7:49PM

It’s a big night for Bundee Aki, who starts a Test game for the first time since last November’s defeat to South Africa.

The Connacht man partners Jamie Osborne in a new-look Ireland midfield.

13 hrs ago 8:01PM

Five minutes until showtime here, the teams just getting ready to enter the pitch.

Let us know your predictions in the comment section.

13 hrs ago 8:10PM

KICK-OFF

We are underway at Aviva Stadium.

13 hrs ago 8:16PM

4mins: Ireland 0 Fiji 0

Tommy O’Brien knocks on as he fails to gather an early box-kick. From the scrum, Fiji attack in the Ireland 22, the pressure ends with Andrew Porter forcing a turnover. There was a knock-on in there too, so it’s an Ireland scrum, where they win a scrum penalty.

Unfortunately, Jamie Osborne has been forced off with what looks like an arm/shoulder injury, so Stuart McCloskey is in after just three minutes. So disappointing for the Leinster man.

13 hrs ago 8:19PM

TRY! Tommy O’Brien

12 hrs ago 8:21PM

9mins: Ireland 7-0 Fiji

Ireland have the first score of the night. Nick Timoney gets up to win an Ireland lineout, and Ireland eventually move the ball right to left, where Robert Baloucoune and Mack Hansen link up to send Tommy O’Brien over.

Sam Prendergast steps up to add the extra two, and Ireland are up and running!

12 hrs ago 8:24PM

11: Ireland 7-0 Fiji

Ireland attack off a scrum, Prendergast kicks wide, looking for Baloucoune, but the bouncing ball dribbles wide off the Ulster man’s shins. A nice idea.

12 hrs ago 8:29PM

13: Ireland 7-0 Fiji

Ireland applying all the pressure – with Baird making some punch carries – but a Fiji knock-on leads to another scrum. 

The scrum is solid, and Gibson-Park decides to have a snipe off the back. He meets some traffic but forces his way over for Ireland’s second try.

Or so we thought…. A TMO review sees the try crossed off for a knock-on. 

12 hrs ago 8:32PM

TRY FIJI! – Josua Tuisova

12 hrs ago 8:34PM

20: Ireland 7-5 Fiji

Cheap one for Ireland. Andy Farrell’s men concede a penalty for offside in their own half. From the lineout, Fiji’s maul rumbles and then Josua Tuisova smashes past Sam Prendergast to score. The conversion is missed.

12 hrs ago 8:36PM

TRY FIJI! - Peceli Yato

12 hrs ago 8:38PM

24: Ireland 7 Fiji 12

Another ugly one for the home side. Prendergast makes a break but after he’s tackled, the ball spills out and Fiji turn it over.

Jiuta Wainiqolo breaks forward and finds his captain Peceli Yato, who finishes a clinical counter. The conversion is good and Fiji lead by five points.

12 hrs ago 8:45PM

28: Ireland 7-12 Fiji

A promising attack ends with Hansen knocking-on, but the play is brought back for a Fiji offside at the lineout.

Prendergast kicks deep into the 22, Ireland’s lineout is clean, won by Beirne, and the maul slowly wins a couple of yards. Gibson-Park breaks but is swallowed up by a couple of Fiji defenders. Baird is next man up, but he’s short of the line, and at the next attempt, Porter appears to squeeze over.

The on-field decision is no-try, and on review, referee Angus Gardner isn’t for budging. Not a popular call here, at all.

12 hrs ago 8:47PM

TRY! Robert Baloucoune

12 hrs ago 8:48PM

30: Ireland 12-12 Fiji

Hansen chases a kick deep into the 22 and puts Fiji under pressure. As they scramble, Ireland win the ball back, and in a flash, Prendergast’s lovely skip pass sends Baloucoune over.

Prendergast shanks the conversion wide.

12 hrs ago 8:52PM

32: Ireland 12-12 Fiji

Ireland contest a Fiji lineout in the Ireland 22, and threaten to steal the ball, but it drops into the hands of tighthead Luke Tagi, who has a simple finish to score his first Test try.

We think. The on-field decision is try…

We go back to the TMO to check for a potential knock-on in the lineout, and the score is crossed off. 

12 hrs ago 8:58PM

TRY! Robert Baloucoune

38: Ireland 12-12 Fiji

Ireland go close from a maul, but concede a penalty for obstruction – Rónan Kelleher the guilty party. Bit of a missed opportunity that one, Ireland had numbers up on the far side of the pitch.

Hand 

12 hrs ago 9:00PM

39: Ireland 17-12 Fiji

Ireland go close from a maul, but concede a penalty for obstruction – Rónan Kelleher the guilty party. A bit of a missed opportunity that one, Ireland had numbers up on the far side of the pitch.

But they quickly make amends. On the next attack, Ireland’s shape is good and another nice Prendergast pass hands Baloucoune another simple run-in.

Prendergast’s conversion attempt smacks the post.

12 hrs ago 9:01PM

Yellow card: James Ryan

12 hrs ago 9:02PM

PENALTY – Fiji (Volavola)

12 hrs ago 9:04PM

HALF TIME: Ireland 17 Fiji 15

So the last action of the half sees James Ryan yellow-carded for an infringement at the breakdown.

Fiji use the penalty to go for the posts, and kick three points.

After the kick, it becomes apparent that Ryan should not have been yellow-carded, and the card will instead be for Tadhg Beirne.

Ireland lead by two at the break. We’ll be back with you in 15.

12 hrs ago 9:17PM

Alright, second half, here we go.

Just to clarify again, Tadhg Beirne is off for the first 10 minutes of the second half, not James Ryan.

11 hrs ago 9:23PM

TRY! Kelleher

11 hrs ago 9:25PM

47: Ireland 22-Fiji 15

Just the start Andy Farrell’s men wanted to this second half. Ireland win a scrum penalty, the call going against Fiji loosehead Peni Ravai.

Ireland’s lineout is good, the maul is solid, and Kelleher peels off to score. Prendergast again misses the target as the rain picks up here.

Big 10 minutes now, important for Ireland to drive on.

11 hrs ago 9:29PM

49: Ireland 22-15 Fiji

Yikes!

Prendergast has a kick blocked by his opposite number Ben Volavola, who kicks and chases the loose ball. Tommy O’Brien has the gas to beat the Fiji out-half to it and regather possession near the Ireland tryline.

James McNabney is now in for his Ireland debut, replacing Nick Timoney, while Sam Illo is in for Tadhg Furlong.

11 hrs ago 9:35PM

53: Ireland 22-15 Fiji

James McNabney is getting treatment after a heavy blow, which is surely going to end his night. Thankfully he’s up and able to walk off the pitch.

That came after two big McNabney breaks, before he got caught by a stay arm to the face in diving for the tryline. 

11 hrs ago 9:38PM

TRY! Andrew Porter

11 hrs ago 9:40PM

54: Ireland 29 Fiji 15

Well, that was quite the run of events.

McNabney was hit hard as he went for the tryline. Hansen sweeps in and tries to score, but he’s short.

The play was then stopped with McNabney motionless on the ground.

On TMO review, it’s no try, and Inoke Ravuiwasa is going to be yellow-carded, which will be reviewed as a possible red. Most importantly, McNabney looked OK heading off the pitch.

We go back for a penalty, Ireland tap-and-go, and Porter barrells his way over. Prendergast’s conversion is good, and Ireland have a nice cushion on the scoreboard now.

11 hrs ago 9:46PM

TRY! Tommy O’Brien

11 hrs ago 9:47PM

Ireland 36-15 Fiji

That’s beautiful play. Prendergast sends a lovely grubber through and O’Brien has space and time to score. 

The Ireland 10 adds the extra two from a tight angle.

And that will be Prendergast’s last involvement, as Ciarán Frawley enters the action.

11 hrs ago 9:49PM

Ravuiwasa’s yellow card will remain a yellow. A significant drop in height by McNabney, we’re told.

11 hrs ago 9:50PM

63: Ireland 36 Fiji 15

Fiji hooker Tevita Ikanivere goes close, but he’s short and loses the ball just before the tryline as he’s tackled by Ireland centres McCloskey and Aki.

11 hrs ago 9:58PM

69: Ireland 36-15 Fiji

Fiji try another trick-play at the lineout, going to the front for a one-two, but Ireland turn it over and Frawley clears.

As this is happening, a Mexican Wave ripples around the stadium, losing a bit of momentum as it hits the sparsely-occupied corners of the upper tier.

11 hrs ago 10:03PM

73: Ireland 36-15 Fiji

Furlong is back on, Illo forced off for a HIA.

It’s been a scrappy few minutes, Ireland currently back in the Fiji 22 after the visitors butcher a few half-chances at the other end.

11 hrs ago 10:06PM

76: Ireland 36-15 Fiji

Close!

Casey teases a lovely kick wide for Frawley, who can’t keep it play – coming on the ball almost shoulder-to-shoulder with Baloucoune.

Fiji drive the goalline drop-out straight into the midriff of Baird.

11 hrs ago 10:06PM

TRY! Nick Timoney

11 hrs ago 10:07PM

78: Ireland 43-15 Fiji

An Ireland lineout puts the home team back on the hunt, and it ends with Timoney going through under the posts.

Frawley converts.

11 hrs ago 10:10PM

FULL TIME: Ireland 43-15 Fiji

11 hrs ago 10:12PM

That’s it at the Aviva, a big win in the end for Ireland against a stubborn Fiji who made it tough in the first half, before their effort faded after the break – not scoring a single point in the second half.

Seven tries and a bonus point win for Ireland, but plenty to sharpen up ahead of the visit of South Africa next weekend.

Gavan Casey is currently scrambling through the crowds to get down and chat to Fiji boss Jake White. Myself and Murray Kinsella will have a post-match reaction pod in your feeds soon, as well as all the reaction from Andy Farrell and the Ireland players.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and thanks for joining us tonight!

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