Ireland will be seeking to put together a convincing performance in their one-off rugby union Test with Fiji on Saturday after two below-par displays against New Zealand and Argentina.
Head coach Andy Farrell has made several changes to the starting XV, as Fiji seek to beat the Irish for the first time in what is their sixth meeting.
The Fijians arrive with a pep in their step after beating Wales earlier this month and fancy their chances of an even bigger scalp in the Six Nations champions.
The crowd-pleasing, physically imposing Fijians have yet to beat the Irish in five previous meetings but they have come on leaps and bounds since their last defeat, 35-17 at Lansdowne Road in 2022.
They will be encouraged too that Farrell has selected a side with two new caps and the unproven but exciting prospect Sam Prendergast at fly-half.
AFP Sport picks out three key talking points:
– Irish vulnerablility –
Fijian scrum-half Frank Lomani made much on Wednesday of meeting the Irish at a good time because they are vulnerable after the error-strewn 23-13 defeat by New Zealand and a far from convincing display in the 22-19 win over Argentina.
Farrell welcomes such comments and although he denies he wants a “statement win” after the poor fare served up thus far, he hopes Lomani’s remarks fires up the players.
“You think the lads don’t read it but they do,” said Farrell.
“They might tell you that they don’t but they do, 100 per cent they do. It’s great. It’s what you want.
“You want to play against sides that are confident and who think it’s an opportunity for themselves because we have to rise to that.”
– Fijian momentum –
The Fijians believe they have their best side for many years, building on the run to the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals and helped no end by having Super Rugby franchise Fijian Drua.
Nevertheless though they have beaten Wales and then a second string Fiji team overcame Spain they were thrashed in their first November Test by Scotland.
Farrell anticipates a formidable challenge and disabused Irish fans expectations of an easy run out.
“You look at the Drua, you look at who’s involved in France, who’s involved in the UK, they’re all playing top-level rugby and playing bloody well in that regard so you would expect that to transfer,” said Farrell.
“When you’ve got good coaching staff that’s bringing them together, the consistency and expectation should be where it is.
“That all accumulates to them believing in the performance they’re looking forward to put out here on Saturday.”
– Redemption for Stockdale –
A lot of attention will be on Prendergast and that may suit Jacob Stockdale down to the ground as he emerges from the shadows after several years in the wilderness.
The 28-year-old once was the go-to wing in Joe Schmidt’s era, a stunning seven tries in their 2018 Six Nations Grand Slam but things went badly awry once Farrell tried him at fullback in an ill-advised experiment.
Some four years later the Ulster star and lover of sports cars is back in the groove at his province.
Farrell, who last gave him a start against Samoa in a pre-Rugby World Cup match last year, has rested James Lowe and given Stockdale an opportunity to stake a claim for his spot on a permanent basis.
“There’s something that’s turned the corner,” said Farrell of Stockdale.
“He’s obviously had a word with himself.
“He’s fit, you can tell he’s looking after himself, you can tell he’s minding himself.
“I suppose he’s had time to reflect on the time he’s not been able to pull the green jersey on and there’s no time like the present to turn that around.”
pi/bsp
