DUBLIN (The Thursday Times) — Ireland scored 26 unanswered points after half-time to beat Fiji 43-15 in the Nations Championship at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, keeping alive their hopes of reaching the new competition’s final.
Tommy O’Brien and Robert Baloucoune scored twice each, and Rónan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, and Nick Timoney also crossed as Andy Farrell’s side ran in seven tries for a bonus-point win.
It was far from fluent. Fiji, now coached by Jake White, led 12-7 after tries from Josua Tuisova and Peceli Yato, and three Irish efforts were ruled out in the first half. Ireland led only 17-15 at the break after Ben Volavola kicked a penalty while captain Tadhg Beirne was in the sin bin.
Ireland’s scrum took control after the restart. Kelleher forced his way over on 44 minutes, Porter burrowed in on 53, and O’Brien ran onto a Sam Prendergast grubber on the hour. Timoney, the No. 8, fended off two tackles to score the seventh try three minutes from time.
Centre Jamie Osborne went off with an arm injury after three minutes, and Ulster forward James McNabney’s debut lasted four minutes before he was caught by a swinging arm, though he was able to walk off.
South Africa next
The win leaves Ireland level on 20 points with England, who are second on points difference, and a point behind leaders France in the northern hemisphere table. England beat Japan 78-15 earlier on Saturday, a day of results that also saw Wales beat New Zealand for the first time since 1953.
Ireland host world champions South Africa next Saturday and need France, who play Argentina, and England, who face New Zealand, to slip up if they are to reach the final at Twickenham on November 29. Fiji, beaten 54-17 by France last week, are still without a point.
