DUBLIN (AP) — Discipline is the over-riding issue when Ireland and Fiji meet in autumn rugby on Saturday for only the sixth time in 30 years.
Neither team has been great at staying cool under pressure this month.
Ireland's flow has been stunted by 13 penalties in consecutive games against New Zealand (lost 23-13) and Argentina (won 22-19). Two yellow cards were also conceded last week against the Pumas, raising the tally to nine in Ireland's last nine tests.
Coach Andy Farrell defended his team for going to the edge to try and win back momentum, but he also made it clear what he wants to see on Saturday from an Ireland side with seven changes.
“Better discipline,” he said, and “more continuity which leads to more pressure on the opposition.”
Fiji gave away two yellow cards against Scotland in Edinburgh, a yellow and red against Wales in Cardiff and another yellow against Spain in Madrid last weekend. The Pacific Nations Cup champion was still good enough to overcome Wales and Spain but at the expense of key wing Semi Radradra, who got a three-game suspension.
Fiji has never beaten Ireland, which hasn't returned to Fiji in nearly 50 years.
Fiji came closest to a win in 2017 when Ireland needed two late Ian Keatley penalties to win 23-20.
The last match between them in 2022 saw Fiji undermined by two yellow cards and a red card to Albert Tuisue for a head-high hit at the start of the second half. Fiji trailed 21-10 at the time, and Ireland cruised home 35-17.
Tuisue is due to come off the bench on Saturday. He and the team are full of X-factor and first-year coach Mick Byrne admits he doesn't have to teach anyone how to offload.
“The growth for us is our ability to curb our enthusiasm to throw the ball away and just get in there and clean out, be strong over the ball and take pride in our breakdown skills and our ball presentation,” Byrne said.
“That growth has been significant over the last six months. The boys are really taking pride in recycling and presenting the ball, which is great for us.”
Farrell doesn’t shake his lineup very often, but he recognizes a need to add depth to his aging Six Nations champions and to see whether fringe squad members have still got what it takes.
He's also told the newer players there's less pressure on them than the more experienced players, “the lads that we expect to perform. It's up to them to show the way.”
Starting debuts have been given to Leinster hooker Gus McCarthy and Ulster flanker Cormac Izuchukwu; flyhalf Sam Prendergast will start in his second test; and fullback Jamie Osborne has a third test start. Jacob Stockdale, Cian Prendergast — the older brother of Sam — and Stuart McCloskey have been given their first chances in 15 months.
“I've no doubt the young lads will be carried along through the fight, and the grit of the others being the best version of themselves,” Farrell said. “So there's a responsibility (on senior players) in that regard.”
Ireland has one more test this autumn, next week when it hosts grand slam-chasing Australia.
AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
Fiji's Jiuta Wainiqolo celebrates his side's win during the Autumn international match rugby match between Wales and Fiji at Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Sunday Nov. 10, 2024. (David Davies/PA via AP)
Ireland's head coach Andy Farrell, centre, watches on layers warming up for the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between Ireland and Argentina, at Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
