| Ireland (21) 35 |
| Tries: Timoney 2, Baloucoune, Hansen, Healy Cons: Carbery 3, Crowley 2 |
| Fiji (10) 17 |
| Tries: Ravouvou, Kuruvoli Cons: Tela, Volavola Pen: Tela |
Ireland won comfortably over Fiji in Dublin after overcoming an early setback.
Kalaveti Rajouvou, an enterprising Fijian, made the home side fall behind.
Ireland responded quickly and scored three tries through Nick Timoney (2) & Robert Baloucoune just before half-time.
After Albert Tuisue had been sent home, Ireland was able to make two more attempts through Mack Hansen or Cian Healy.
Simione's consolation attempt for Fiji by Simione Kuruvoli came before Healy's score.
The result might not be a great one for Ireland in an year that saw a historic series win against the All Blacks in New Zealand, and last week's thrilling victory over South Africa.
Andy Farrell, the head coach, can be happy that his team has maintained momentum ahead next week's Test against Australia, despite nine changes made from the defeat to the Springboks.
Farrell was also able to introduce players at this level, with Jack Crowley and Jeremy Loughman all winning their first caps.
Robbie Henshaw will be a concern as she was forced to leave early due to an injury. This happened while Ireland switched to Australia. Australia lost to Italy on Saturday for the first time.
Ireland responds to the wake-up call
Vern Cotter, Ireland coach for Fiji, was not available. comments in the build-up Although the hosts wanted to treat Saturday's Test as a “training session”, Andy Farrell's team received a wake up call after only four minutes.
Fiji was not discouraged by Teti Tela's miss at goal early on, and combined speed and precision to score a fantastic opening try. Ravouvou scored after Ravouvou had completed impressive work down the left flank from Vinaya Nagosi (Waisea Nayacalevu).
Ireland suffered another blow when Henshaw, who was injured and missed the win over South Africa last week, hobbled off. But that didn't stop them from regaining control and spending much time in Fijian 22.
Timoney's second helped calm the nerves. He first forced his way over following carries by Kieran Treadwell, captain Tadhg Furlong and to even the score.
Treadwell, Timoney's club teammate, thought he had scored Ireland’s second goal. However, it was chalked off following a TMO review in which the lock was held up.
Manasa Salo being sin-binned, Ireland quickly recovered and mauled their line to Timoney's second.
An Irish offside allowed Tela a penalty to be converted by Tela, but Ireland added another try just 24 minutes later when Baloucoune was given simple task of walking over the line following Jimmy O'Brien's burst as well as a Jamison Gibson Park pass to the right flank.
Fiji trailed by 11 at the break. Fiji's chances of pulling off a major upset were further hampered when Tuisue was sent home following a TMO Review after he crashed into Carbery and took a head-high hit.
Hansen scored Ireland's fourth touchdown in a disjointed, low-key second-half that was lacking the tension from last week's nail biting tussle between South Africa and South Africa.
Fiji responded with another stunning score when Kuruvoli soared over the line following a fantastic offload by Jiuta Wainiqolo.
Ireland won the match and Healy scored a rare try to secure Ireland's 16th win from 18 matches.
Ireland: O'Brien, Baloucoune; Henshaw; McCloskey; Hansen; Carbery; Gibson-Park; Loughman; Herring, Furlong (capt), Beirne; Treadwell; Doris; Timoney, Conan
Replacements: Sheehan, Healy, O'Toole, Prendergast, Deegan, Casey, Crowley, Ringrose.
Fiji: Tuicuvu; Wainiqolo, Nayacalevu, Ravouvou, Habosi; Tela, Lomani; Mawi, Matavesi, Saulo; Nasilasila, Rotuisolia; Tuisue, Botia, Mata.
Replacements: Dolokoto, Natave, Atalifo, Ratuniyarawa, Dyer, Kuruvoli, Volavola, Cocagi.
