Flying Fijians target to beat world No.1
VIA its social media platform Ireland Rugby advised fans that tickets for the Fiji v Ireland clash at the Aviva Stadium have been sold out.
This shows the passion and pride with which Irish fans will be out at the stadium to spur the world No.1 side v the 11th ranked Flying Fijians.
The Fiji v Ireland battle will keep fans at the edge of their seats. It will be about Ireland’s power in the forwards against Fiji’s elusive backline.
The Flying Fijians take on the Irish after going down to Scotland 28-12 on Sunday, while Ireland beat the RWC champion, South Africa 19-16, in a thrilling encounter.
Ireland and Fiji have played four times and Ireland has got a four out of four winning record.
The first Test between the sides was played in 1995 at Lansdowne Road in Dublin, with Ireland recording a huge victory 44-8.
In 2002 at the same venue, Ireland demolished Fiji 64-17, and seven years later at the RDS Arena in Dublin, Ireland had the upper hand, winning 41-6.
However, the last battle in 2017 at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, saw the Flying Fijians scare the Joe Schmidt-coached Ireland side, eventually going down 23-20.
A single Ian Keatley penalty was all that separated the sides, and Ireland was made to work hard for the win, despite taking a 17-3 lead thanks to tries from Darren Sweetnam, Dave Kearney and Jack Conan.
Fiji then fought back, with Henry Seniloli scoring shortly before half-time after a storming run from Nemani Nadolo, and Timoci Nagusa crossing for an intercept try five minutes after the break to level the scores.
Thereafter, it was down to the two kickers, with replacement Keatley outscoring Ben Volavola by two penalties to one, the Irishman’s second going over with eight minutes remaining.
Heading to tomorrow morning’s exciting battle, Ireland has won 15 of their last 17 Test matches, including the last three in a row, with only defeats in that period coming away to France in February this year and the All Blacks at the beginning of July.
Ireland has won their last 10 home matches.
Fiji is winless in its last three matches in Europe, after winning five in a row previously.
Fiji’s last win against Tier One opposition came during the endof-year Tests in Europe however, beating France in 2018 21-14.
In its previous five matches, Fiji has lost three matches, won one match and drawn one match. Fiji lost to Scotland 28-12, Samoa 23-20 and Wales 38-23.
Fiji beat Tonga 36-0 in the Pacific Nations Cup, and drew 15-all against Georgia.
The Irish, on the other hand, have won four matches and lost one.
Ireland beat the Springboks 19-16, and completed a historic win on NZ soil for the first time against the All Blacks during the three-Test series, winning 3222 and 23-12.
However, the green machine lost to the All Blacks 42-19 in the first Test.
Ireland beat Scotland 26-5 in the Six Nations competition. Coach Andy Farrell, who has been hailed as the greatest, has named a powerful squad to face the Flying Fijians.
He made eight changes from the starting line-up for last weekend’s 19-16 win over the Springboks.
Players such as Jimmy O’Brien, Robert Baloucoune, Robbie Henshaw, Stuart McCloskey, Mack Hansen, Joey Carbery, Jamison Gibson Park, Jeremy Loughman, Rob Herring, Tadhg Furlong, who will captain the side, Kieran Treadwell, Tadhg Beirne, Caelan Doris, Nick Timoney, Jack Conan, Dan Sheehan, Cian Healy, Tom O’Toole, Cian Prendergast, Max Deegan, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley and Garry Ringrose.
The Flying Fijians must be clinical and deliver their A game. They must watch their discipline. Our boys face a mammoth task against a side which will be spurred by the crowd, and will play for pride and the iconic Irish jersey.
■ Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam is a regular contributor to this newspaper and the views expressed in this article are his and not of