Ireland Ease Past Fiji

Guinness Test Series: Ireland 41 Fiji 6

By Denis O'Brien

Despite a sluggish first half display against a game Fiji side, Ireland ran out comfortable winners in the second of their Guinness Test series at the rain sodden RDS last Saturday night.

With the conditions drenching early in the match, Ireland found the physically imposing Polynesian side difficult to breakdown and held a narrow 13-3 lead at half time. A Fijian penalty reduced the gap to seven points shortly after the resumption but two minutes later the door was pushed firmly open when captain Brian O'Driscoll yet again led the way after he intercepted and marched to the line for a try.

The introduction of Tomas O'Leary at scrum half added fresh impetus as Eoin Reddan had looked hesitant all evening, and, with fresh legs, particularly in the guise of the hard working Tony Buckley, Ireland soon had Fiji on the backfoot.

Over the next twenty minutes Ireland proceeded to open holes in the Fiji defense with tries by the impressive Keith Earls (his second of the night), Rob Kearney, and Shane Horgan.

The home side, with replacements ready to impress, looked eager to the end against the overmatched Polynesians.

After Ireland's impressive display last week to force a tie with Australia, Declan Kidney tried out several new players in this second test.

In the back row, new cap young Leinster out-half Jonathon Sexton came in for O'Gara; while Keith Earls, Gordon Darcy, Shane Horgan and scrum half Eoin Reddan also started. Up front, Tom Court, Leo Cullen, Stephen Ferris, and Denis Leamy all got their chance to shine.

The one to impress the most was Sexton who from the very start never put a foot wrong going five for five, scoring 16 points - three conversions and two penalties with a brace coming from very acute angles. The young 24-year old, was coolness personified throughout, found touch with distance and style, and any time he got possession he made some incise runs, and most importantly, wasn't predictable.

In the opening minutes he gathered down field and instead of kicking for an easy and settling touch, he slipped a tackle and made excellent yardage. As the rain poured down, he next delivered a great kick for touch and soon after converted a penalty to see Ireland take the lead.

Then Ireland forced a penalty and choose a scrum close to the Fiji line. In a silky movement similar to last week's Ozzie tying try, Leamy at the back, offloaded to Reddan, who found Earls and the 22-year old Moyross man, jinked past one and in for a fine try. Sexton made no mistake with the conversion for a 10-point lead.

Fiji made little headway in the opening 20 minutes but were awarded a penalty from just short of the half way line but out-half, Nicky Little, even though he had the range, kicked just wide. Five minutes later after Ireland were penalized for not rolling away, he got another chance from closer in and his attempt put Fiji on the score board.

The rain had stopped by now but the wet conditions weren't conducive for flowing rugby and Ireland were finding a very big set of Fijian forwards and backs difficult to handle. Fiji scrum-half, Mosese Rauluni was evasive while Little and the strong running full back, Norman Ligairi, were all dangerous on the ball.

The game developed into a scrappy affair with no real clean possession with Ireland's scrum again very much of the mixed bag variety while a watertight Fijian lineout gave nothing away. Sexton made another good run, before handing to Darcy, who with a try in the offing, muffed his pass only for Raulini to intercept. Then Sexton put over another fine penalty to see Ireland taken a 10-point lead into the break.

Leamy, quite enough in the match, unfortunately suffered a bad looking leg injury and had to be replaced after the restart.

Little narrowed the gap to seven after an Irish player was ruled offside and just as the Fijians were beginning to enjoy some valuable possession, O'Driscoll popped up to intercept and he headed to the line for an easy touchdown and Ireland's second try, which Sexton converted.

Reddan, even though he had just made a good touchline break, was then subbed by O'Leary and the scrum-half of choice seemed more assured around the scrum and the breakdown.

Ireland now piled on the pressure and after a great passing movement Earls, strong on the ball, went over for a try in the corner. Even though the conversion attempt, was from a very acute angle, Sexton put the ball straight between the posts for a 27-6 lead. With a comfortable advantage, Kidney rang the changes with forward, Tony Buckley in particular making useful yardage and openings.

Then Kearney, after a good break, made for the line and the TV match official awarded a try with another great conversion from Sexton. With the Fijians now well beaten, Shane Horgan followed with another try with O'Leary providing the all important pass and from another difficult angle Sexton made it five from five. But for some good defending by Fiji near the end, Ireland could have ran in a further brace of tries.

Up next South Africa.

The poor conditions made life difficult for both teams but Ireland came good in the end. They do though have to tighten their scrum a bit more and be first in the breakdown as the World Champions are very good especially in the latter category.

But Ireland with the likes of Sexton and Earls pushing hard for a place in the first fifteen have a very talented panel and growing in confidence all the time, will be very tough opponents.

Teams:
Ireland: Rob Kearney; Shane Horgan, Brian O'Driscoll (capt.), Gordon D'Arcy, Keith Earls; Jonathan Sexton, Eoin Reddan; Tom Court, Jerry Flannery, John Hayes, Leo Cullen, Paul O'Connell, Stephen Ferris, Denis Leamy, Jamie Heaslip. Replacements used: Sean O'Brien for Leamy (44 mins, inj.), Tomas O'Leary for Reddan (55), Tony Buckley for Hayes (61), Andrew Trimble for O'Driscoll, Donnacha O'Callaghan for O'Connell (both 68), Sean Cronin for Flannery (73), Paddy Wallace for Kearney (75).
Fiji: Norman Ligairi; Vereniki Goneva, Gabiriele Lovobalavu, Seremaia Bai (capt.), Nasoni Roko; Nicky Little, Mosese Rauluni; Asaike Tarogi, Viliame Veikoso, Viliame Seuseu, Wame Lewaravu, Ifereimi Rawaqa, Apolosi Satala, Akapusi Qera, Asaeli Boko. Replacements used: Leone Nakarawa for Rawaqa (HT), Timoci Nagusa for Ligairi (53 mins), Graham Dewes for Tarogi, Isireli Ledua for Veikoso, Samu Bola for Qera (all 66), Josh Matavesi for Bai (80).