Ireland player ratings: After seeing off the challenge of Argentina a week ago, Andy Farrell’s side face a very different task in the form of Fiji’s Jake White.
Although the odds were not on the visitors’ side, it was Ireland who were a little nervous. that Wales-All black people the result scared them? Going in 17-15 at the break probably wasn’t on most bingo cards, but Fiji they were good value for that result as Ireland struggled to string games together.
Ireland started to click in the second forty, but this was far from convincing and you dare say Ireland’s next opponents, the Springboks, will be licking their lips watching from their team hotel.
15. Mack Hansen – 5.5
Moved to the 15, Connachtman’s first big input was Tommy O’Brien’s clearance in the left corner. Coughed up a bad missed try to meet Fiji’s second try. Dropped the ball in the 26th minute to stop Ireland’s attack and generally looked clumsy in the air. He almost scored a try after James McNabney was knocked out by a Fijian fist but was ruled short.
14. Rob Baloucoune – 8
Baloucoune had another crack at right wing after a great performance against Argentina, and he started in the same spirit here, testing Fiji’s title and playing a part in Ireland’s first try. He let Prendergast’s crossfield strike touch in front of him, but 10 minutes later he got on the end of his fly-half for Ireland’s second, and he lifted his brace just before half-time. The man is paid to score tries, and he did.
23. Stuart McCloskey – 5.5
Irish Mr. swiss army knife Jamie Osborne has been handed his first start at center for Ireland, having played the vast majority of his Test rugby under Farrell at 15. Unfortunately for him, it only lasted three minutes before he left with a chest injury and did not return. He was replaced by Stuart McCloskey, who played more or less the full match. He lost three turnovers in the first half alone and, a few rumbles aside, it was pretty mediocre fare.
12. Bundee Aki – 5
The 36-year-old was starting his first Test since the defeat to Bok last November but had a remarkably anonymous first forty, appearing only to appear when a midfield match was due. He’s had some competent carries, but seems to have lost the explosive violence his younger brother possessed in spades.
11. Tommy O’Brien – 7.5
Missing his first take of a high ball under almost no pressure was not an ideal start, but he soon made up for it by running in Ireland’s first try on eight minutes. He responded with Baloucoune’s brace in the 59th minute, but was uncharacteristically quiet apart from those two, albeit important, interventions. It also had decent traffic.
10. Sam Prendergast – 6.5
It will always be difficult to follow his performance on all pitches against Argentina, but the first minutes of this outing were definitely in the middle. His effort to stop Josua Tuisova in the 19th minute was perhaps the biggest mismatch since Tyson-Bruno II in 1996. Like many of his teammates, he looked off center in the first half. A perfectly timed pass led Baloucoune to the goal for Ireland’s much-needed second five-pointer, and his second half, with one shot less, must have been far better before he was substituted.
9. Jamison Gibson-Park – 7
Still in the starting XV, having been sidelined with injury, it didn’t take long for JGP to get over the line for what appeared to be Ireland’s second try in 15 minutes, but it was disallowed by the TMO for a suspected tackle. He came close again a few minutes later but had no support. He made a 20m break that got Aviva on their feet, and that would eventually lead to Ireland’s fourth try, which more or less lost the contest.
8. Nick Timoney – 7.5
Starting at No.8 to ease Ireland’s growing injury crisis in the position, Timoney has been bringing good form into the game as he cements himself as a legitimate option in the Irish backline. Won a decent turnover in 36 minutes, but other than that not much good or bad to do, not featuring high on either the battle ball list or the table. His return to the field after scoring a late try, which slightly brightened his rating.
7. Josh van der Flier – 6
He had an assist on Tevita Ikanivera’s 10th-minute turnaround and was generally one of Ireland’s more passable forwards in a torrid first half. He was on deck cleaning duty and put a few decent carries into the purchase.
6. Ryan Baird – 6
He overturned on the first carry and found himself stuck in traffic several times, interfering with at least one pass intended for him, and was penalized for 17 minutes. The attempt in the 28th minute was a concern, but it was judged to have been ruled out. Happy to get away with another spill that almost resulted in Fiji’s third try. I went through a decent amount of work and was a real asset to the lineup, although Man of the Match felt like a real stretch for this writer.
5. Tadhg Beirne – 6
Captaining Ireland for the first time in a home match, the Munsterman might have hoped for a more confident performance from his side. Yellow card before half-time, this was a far cry from the Beirne of old.
4. James Ryan – 6
He returned to the team at running back, after starting all of the first games Nations Championship this summer. He introduced himself for the odd two-to-three-yard pass but was booked for a cynical tackle just before half-time, although it ended up being wronged for Tadhg Beirne, who replaced him in the bin.
3. Tadhg Furlong – 7
He faced the experienced Peni Ravai and clearly moved into the fight. Pretty quiet in the loose, but if he can repeat the scrum stuff against the Boks, he’ll win the Irish rugby equivalent of the Purple Heart.
2. Rónan Kelleher – 8
With Sheehan on HIA protocol, it was an opportunity for Kelleher to exorcise the ghosts of units past, which he mostly did. He also had a decent innings in the loose, playing a key role in Ireland’s third try. Arguably Ireland’s standout striker. It was very good value for his attempt to calm his nerves just after the break, just reward for a good display, and fittingly he was cleared off the line.
1. Andrew Porter – 8
Against the heavy 130kg Luke Tagui, Porter more than held his own, although there will be tougher tests next week. Guilty of a knock-on after just two minutes, but won the ensuing fight by pinning Tagi. He repeatedly made himself available to run goals in the first half, calling on the Porter of old. He rounded off a good performance with an attempt from close range on 53 minutes.
Substitutions – 7
McCloskey aside, it was a game that you’d think few would have bothered to get stuck in given how scared Ireland were in the first half. James McNabney received a huge welcome from Aviva and hit back with a 20m dash to the line, but was later tackled by a Fijian in the next phase, unfortunately going to the HIA. Ciarán Frawley and Craig Casey added real value as replacement full-backs. Illo himself also received an HIA before full time.