PLAYER of the match Bundee Aki was amongst the tries at the Aviva Stadium as Ireland claimed a comprehensive 35-point triumph over Fiji in their third game of this year’s Autumn Nations Series.

Debutant Gus McCarthy also crossed the whitewash and had a hand in four other scores as Andy Farrell’s men put themselves in a positive frame of mind ahead of next weekend’s final November test against an Australian side that are coached by his predecessor Joe Schmidt.

Sam Prendergast was handed his first Test start after appearing off the bench in last Friday week’s nail-biting win over Argentina.

And his Leinster team-mate Gus McCarthy and Ulster flanker Cormac Izuchukwu were making their Ireland senior bows after being named in the first 15 earlier in the week.

McCarthy left an early impression on this contest as he picked up possession at the back of a maul – after his own line-out delivery had been comfortably gathered – and released Ireland captain Caelan Doris for a breakthrough fifth-minute try.

Prendergast slotted over the resulting conversion in routine fashion, but the Kildare native subsequently found himself in the sin bin moments later for a high tackle on Fiji’s Kitione Salawa.

An off field review determined that the Irish fly-half’s challenge didn’t warrant being upgraded to a red card, but the hosts moved further in front during his temporary absence.

Although they breathed a sigh of relief when Jiuta Wanigolo’s effort to secure a Fiji try was ruled out by TMO Mike Adamson, a ‘tap and go’ from Gus McCarthy on 15 minutes paved the way for Josh van der Flier to cross over for the second time in just three games.

Craig Casey briefly assumed kicking duties from Prendergast and the Munster scrum-half convincingly split the uprights to move Ireland 14 points clear.

A successful Caleb Muntz penalty got Fiji up and running ahead of Prendergast’s return from the bin.

But the visitors were temporarily reduced to 14 players themselves when loosehead prop Eroni Mawi was yellow carded just shy of the first-quarter mark.

Ireland couldn’t add to their total during this 10 minute period, however, and suffered a set-back when Jamie Osborne was withdrawn through injury – the versatile Ciaran Frawley taking his place at full-back in the 28th minute.

Yet the Green Army were determined to end the opening half with a flourish and their third try eventually arrived when Casey touched down in the right-corner on the half-hour.

Prendergast added the bonuses to this score on his return to the tee and after his delicate crossfield kick left Mack Hansen with a simple finish at the end of a stoppage-time attack, he added two more points to propel Ireland towards a 28-3 interval advantage.

Gus McCarthy had also provided the final pass for the try that Casey scored in the opening period and he once again turned provider for Aki’s five-pointer at the end of a prolonged move seven minutes after the resumption.

In the wake of this latest try, Farrell opted to dip extensively into his reserve options with all but one of his replacements having entered the fray by the 51st minute.

However, one of these changes was enforced due to an injury sustained by Jacob Stockdale – who was making his first Ireland appearance since August 2023 – meaning Conor Murray was forced to fill in for the Ulster man on the left-wing.

Fiji had struggled to create any sort of attacking momentum up to this point, but they finally crossed the Irish whitewash on 55 minutes when Salawa powered over for a fine individual try that was supplemented by a Muntz conversion.

FINAL ACTIONS

Even though Ireland reinforced their authority inside the final-quarter when Gus McCarthy registered the try that his performance deserved off a line-out maul move, this was swiftly cancelled out by a breakaway score from Fijian replacement Setareki Turagacoke.

Yet the Stade Francais forward was subsequently sin-binned on 67 minutes and Ireland took immediate advantage of their latest numerical supremacy with a second try from the ever-dangerous Hansen.

It initially looked like this was going to be the final score of the tie – until replacement Ronan Kelleher popped up in the 79th minute for a five-pointer that rounded off an accomplished display from Ireland.

Scorers: Ireland: Tries: M Hansen 2, C Doris, J van der Flier, C Casey, B Aki, G McCarthy, R Kelleher. Cons: S Prendergast 5, C Casey.

Fiji: Tries: K Salawa, S Turagacoke. Con: C Muntz 2. Pen: C Muntz.

Ireland: J Osborne (C Frawley 28); M Hansen, R Henshaw (S McCloskey 48), B Aki (R Kelleher 74), J Stockdale (C Murray 50); S Prendergast, C Casey; A Porter (T O’Toole 48), G McCarthy, F Bealham (T Clarkson 48); J McCarthy, T Beirne; C Izuchukwu (I Henderson 51), J van der Flier (C Prendergast 48), C Doris.

Fiji: V Karawalevu; J Wainiqolo, W Nayacalevu (V Botitu 61), J Tuisova, P Loganimasi (S Maqala 55); C Muntz, F Lomani (P Matawalu 23); E Mawi (H Hetet 51), T Ikanivere (S Matavesi 51), L Tagi (S Tawake h-t); M Vocevoce, T Mayanavanua (S Turagacoke 59); R Meli Derenalagi (A Tuisue 59), K Salawa (H Hetet 23-29), E Canakaivata.

Referee: H Davidson (Scotland).

He might be well settled back in his homeland at this point, but Ireland is a country that still retains a special place in the heart of Argentinian head coach Felipe Contepomi.

After arriving from Bristol in 2003, the Buenos Aires native enjoyed a six-year stint as a Leinster player – amassing an impressive tally of 1,225 points across 116 appearances.

While his side have pulled off some big victories in the current calendar year, Felipe Contepomi has says his primary focus is on performances rather than results ahead of Friday’s game against Ireland in the Aviva Stadium.

A former player and assistant coach with Leinster, Contepomi took over as Pumas supremo from Michael Cheika in the wake of last year’s Rugby World Cup in France – where the South American nation achieved a fourth-place finish. The Buenos Aires native is currently 10 games into his reign and in addition to getting the better of France in a summer test international, he also guided his country to impressive triumphs over world champions South Africa, New Zealand and Australia over the course of an eventful campaign in the Rugby Championship.

Scrum-half Gonzalo Bertranou has said Argentina will need to leave nothing up to chance if they are to overcome ‘a different beast’ in the form of Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on Friday evening (kick-off 8.10pm).

At Stadio Friuli in Udine last Saturday, the Pumas registered seven tries on their way to defeating Italy 50-18 in the first of three international tests that the South American nation are set to play in November.

AS THEY PREPARE to take on Andy Farrell’s international side at the Aviva Stadium this Friday evening, Argentina assistant coach Kendrick Lynn has admitted it is ‘an added bonus’ that there are two men within their ranks who possess inside knowledge of Irish rugby.

In addition to Felipe Contepomi – a former Leinster player who subsequently served as their backs coach from 2018 to 2022 – being in charge of the team, Connacht star Santiago Cordero is also part of the current Argentine set-up and was amongst the tries when the Pumas defeated Italy 50-18 in Udine last Saturday.

While New Zealand native Lynn (who took up his role as assistant coach in June of this year) says they haven’t leaned too heavily on either Contepomi or Cordero in their initial build-up to the game, he acknowledged it is an advantage that both men are acquainted with so many players in the Irish camp.

“Felipe knows Irish rugby so well and Leinster. There’s a fair bit of that, but to be honest we haven’t doubled down or spoken to Santi about anything really too particular. We’re trying to nail off how we want to play and keep doing what we’re doing,” Lynn remarked in a Zoom call earlier today.

“We understand what the Ireland team can bring, the type of team they are. The strength that they have, their individual players and their skill set. It will help that guys like Santi have been here and they know them and obviously we’ve the experience of Felipe. I guess it’s an added bonus.”

Having been sidelined for the majority of their 2023/24 campaign with an ACL injury – he regained full fitness in time to make two appearances at the tail end of the term – Cordero has finally enjoyed a sustained run of games in the green of Connacht this season. The former Exeter Chiefs and Bordeaux player has featured in all six outings that the westerners have played in the United Rugby Championship to date, but he had already returned to the Argentinian fold before Connacht got up and running in their latest URC campaign.

There was 65 minutes gone on the clock when Cordero crossed the Italian whitewash last weekend and the manner in which he grabbed his try was particularly pleasing from Lynn’s perspective.

“That came from just massive work off the ball. He recognised that there was an opportunity. He was on the far side of the field, he was by himself. Then he made a good, early decision and he worked really hard off the ball. Then he was there to score and finish.

“It was good to see him using his footwork, because that’s a real strength of his. He’s a great man to have in the back line, he’s really positive and his style of play really suits us.”

Joining Lynn on yesterday’s Zoom call was Juan Martin Gonzalez – who lined out at blindside flanker for Argentina’s victory at the expense of Italy.

Having already secured wins against world champions South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and France in the current calendar year, Gonzalez and the Pumas are now looking to pick up their first-ever win over Ireland in Dublin.

They will be facing an Irish side that are looking to regroup in the wake of a disappointing performance and result at home to New Zealand in their opening Autumn Nations Series test last Friday, but Gonzalez believes this could make them an even tougher proposition for their upcoming meeting on Lansdowne Road.

“It’s true that they didn’t perform really well against the All Blacks, but they lost their last game, so I think they are coming with more strength. That is one thing and it is really hard to play here in Ireland. The stadium is going to be amazing, all the people are going to be crazy, but for us that is good. We like that challenge,” Gonzalez explained.

Although four of those that Contepomi included in his 35-man selection for their November internationals against Italy, Ireland and France are based domestically, the vast majority of the Argentina squad are playing their club rugby in Europe at the moment. Gonzalez falls into the latter category and is now in his second season at English Premiership outfit Saracens.

Before throwing in his lot with Sarries, Gonzalez spent two seasons at London Irish – making 37 appearances under the stewardship of ex-Ireland head coach Declan Kidney. Both he and fellow Argentine international Lucio Cinti made the move to Saracens after Irish were placed into administration in 2023 and Gonzalez is enjoying life at a club that is spearheaded by Bangor’s Mark McCall.

“I went to London Irish when I was 20 years old and it was amazing. I really enjoyed that. It’s true that we don’t have other chances. You have to go to other places if you want to be in Pumas,” Gonzalez added.

“Now we have three teams in Argentina that are really good, but at that moment we didn’t have [any]. That’s why I went to London Irish and it was a really good experience.

“Saracens is amazing. I really love to be there and to play there. The people are really good with me and I’m really excited to keep playing there.”

Daire Walsh