1
Ireland player ratings vs Fiji | 2024 Autumn Nations Series
By Liam Heagney at Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Ireland player ratings live from Aviva Stadium: The much-changed Ireland came into this fixture with their fellow Rugby World Cup 2023 quarter-finalists looking for a November uplift after unconvincing performances in recent weeks and they got it, comfortably leading 28-3 at the break and going on to win 52-17.
ADVERTISEMENT
The final tally was eight Irish tries to two from Fiji, but Andy Farrell’s side didn’t have it all their own way initially as a stupid eighth-minute Sam Prendergast yellow card slowed momentum. They Irish did ‘win’ this sin bin period 7-3 but it was still only a 14-3 contest approaching the half-hour before the result-deciding gap was clinically created before the break.
By the time it then became 35-3 early in the second half, Farrell ran his bench with next weekend’s series-closer versus Australia in mind and what followed was a scratchy, unstructured finish that aptly ended in a bust-up behind the try line after sub Ronan Kelleher ended the scoring. Here are the Ireland player ratings:
15. Jamie Osborne – 5
Was on track to rate high only for adductor injury to end his cap on 28 minutes. Assuring composure in what he briefly did, starting with the game’s first Irish penalty coming after a perfect full-back style catch and decent ruck set-up.
14. Mack Hansen – 7
Wasn’t the best version of himself in recent weeks and that inaccuracy initially continued when what should have been a first-half try assist for Cormac Izuchukwu marginally drifted forward. Took some punishment on the carry but shrugged it off and was rewarded with an unopposed run in to score on the blow of half-time and then another in the second half from a snappy Craig Casey pass.
13. Robbie Henshaw – 8
A busy, polished performance on both sides of the ball. Plenty of momentum-generating carries, including importantly when Ireland were a man short with Prendergast binned. Applied his experience well until being one of the quartet taken out eight minutes into the second half with Ireland home and hosed at 35-3 up.
12. Bundee Aki – 8.5
This was more like it after his rusty effort versus the All Blacks which saw him dropped last week. There were some possessions lost but not the costly sort to wound his ball-carrying frequency. Had the crowd oohing with a juddering first-half tackle on the giant Luke Tagi; then went on to become a second-half scorer and the sponsor’s official player of the match for his 74 minutes of endeavour.
ADVERTISEMENT
11. Jacob Stockdale – 6
In his first appearance in quite some time, his determination couldn’t be faulted, tackling well and even popping up on the opposite wing to try and get involved. The breaks, though, just didn’t fall his way. Was agonisingly short of the line early in the second half and then sadly hobbled away with a lame hamstring on 50 minutes after hurting it on the carry. Farrell was “gutted” for him and so was everyone else.
10. Sam Prendergast – 7
It wasn’t until late in the opening half that being a first time Test rugby starter began to make some sense to him. Before that he had been carded for a cheap-shot, kicked out badly twice and left a try behind with a delayed attempted pass to Josh van der Flier. Looked more comfortable with sub Ciaran Frawley assisting and his half ended with a neat kicked assist to put Hansen in. From there, he was much more tuned in and way more assured in what he contributed in the second half.
9. Craig Casey – 7.5
You feared for him the way he was twice unceremoniously sent hurtling backwards trying to stop early Fijian carries, but attack was his priority and he didn’t disappoint with a generally slick pass. His personal highlight was a diving 30th-minute finish in the corner, but his team-first effort was summed up by his great spot to put Hansen in at the blindside corner on 68 when support was massed in the other direction.
1. Andrew Porter – 5.5
Normally credited with plenty of involvements but that work rate was not obvious here in a cut-short 48-minute appearance.
ADVERTISEMENT
2. Gus McCarthy – 8.5
When you overlook the couple of lineout misfires, this was an excellent debut from the surprise inclusion. Provided the first half try assists for the scoring Caelan Doris and Casey, the second a splendid offload, and his tapped penalty in between also ignited a try move. Away from the 22, his alertness was best seen when he had the smarts to run a fine support line when Casey galloped away from midfield on 21 minutes off a quick tap. Went on to play the full 80 and while there were errors for Fiji’s two tries, he gave Aki the assist, scored himself and finished scrumming at flanker. What a Test rugby introduction.
3. Finlay Bealham – 6
Similar to Porter, the game that unfolded wasn’t the type for him to stand out hugely. Ireland’s scrum wasn’t perfect, but he tackled often and was involved in the 48th-minute move for the Aki try, his last action before exiting.
4. Joe McCarthy – 7
Another where the notes were reduced compared to a typical McCarthy outing, but he overall didn’t let his team down and was very comfortable dealing with the physicality Fiji threw at him. If there is a quibble it is how he couldn’t prevent the offload in the lead-up t0 the second Fijian try.
5. Tadhg Beirne – 8
Looked more at home operating at second row than at blindside where he was stationed in recent weeks. Produced an immense tackle on 14 minutes to deny Jiuta Wainiqolo a try at a time when Ireland were Prendergast-less. Then led the maul superbly for the 30th-minute try, putting an end to the closeness on the scoreboard.
6. Cormac Izuchukwu – 6
The day’s second Irish debutant, his baptism lasted 51 minutes. Showed up positively when his team were a man down to pull off a try-saving tackle on Fijian prop Tagi; then thought he had scored only for Hansen’s pass to have gone forward. Wasn’t a star but didn’t look massively out of place either. Farrell gave him kudos for his lineout play.
7. Josh van der Flier – 8
His energy was too much for Fiji when the game was there to be won. Scored the second try and went about his work with aplomb. His one mark down was not finding Aki with a pass before the break that would surely have led to a try. Exited early with a view to the Wallabies.
8. Caelan Doris – 8.5
Made Test rugby look easy on an important afternoon for him leading a team with a much reduced experience due to its multiple changes. He led them well through what could have become a troubling first half. Full of incision on the carry, he opened the scoring, gave van der Flier the assist, dusted himself off after being on the receiving end of a yellow-carded tip tackle and then had plenty of fun throughout the second half, even experimenting at centre.
Monster collision! ? Aki putting in shots!!
? Live on @rugbyontnt #IREvFIJ #IrishRugby #Aki #rugbytackle pic.twitter.com/a4bJjk4BjI
— Autumn Nations Series (@autumnnations) November 23, 2024
Replacements:
16. Ronan Kelleher – 6
Only on for the closing six minutes for Aki, he played at hooker with McCarthy moving to flanker. Finished as a try scorer.
17. Tom O’Toole – 5.5
A big afternoon for him as loosehead sub, his 32-minute-long chance to stake a major claim on Cian Healy’s jersey didn’t go brilliantly.
18. Thomas Clarkson – 5.5
Another sent on eight minutes into the second half, he wasn’t as impactful as he was on the debut last weekend.
19. Iain Henderson – 5.5
Replaced Izuchukwu on 51, he needed to put in a big shift to make up for the untidiness versus New Zealand but he wasn’t on top of his game.
20. Cian Prendergast – 6
The third forward sent on in the 48th minute for van der Flier, he trucked along.
21. Conor Murray – 5.5
An appearance with a difference for the veteran, coming in on 50 minutes at left wing for the stricken Stockdale. Couldn’t get under the ball carrier to stop the first Fijian try and then thought he had scored himself only for Frawley’s pass to be forward.
22. Ciaran Frawley – 7
Sent in for Osborne on 28 minutes, his presence helped to stabilise Prendergast as the pair combined nicely. Twice needed treatment but carried on influentially, helping Ireland in a second half when the exchanges opened up.
23. Stuart McCloskey – 5.5
Given 32 minutes in place of Henshaw, he soon got sidetracked at the ruck which Fiji nabbed their opening try from.
A moment to remember for Gus McCarthy on debut! ?
Watch all the action live on @tntsports.#TeamOfUs pic.twitter.com/gM37RD81rm
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) November 23, 2024
Go behind the scenes of both camps during the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa in 2021. Binge watch exclusively on RugbyPass TV now
Ireland should have won by at least another 14 pts. A lot of errors in.the first half...and Stockdale not passing for a certain try..unforgiveable.