JI WHIZZ.. CLOSE ONE

IRELAND 23 FIJI 20 AUTUMN RUGBY INTERNATIONAL Irish second string victorious but only just

THRILLS and spills and some bellyache for Joe Schmidt as he watched Ian Keatley squeeze his newlook Ireland over the line the Aviva Stadium last night.

As half-time approached the hosts, with 13 changes from the side that hammered South Africa last weekend, had cruised into a 17-3 lead as the Mexican Wave rolled around the Lansdowne Road venue.

Joey Carbery was running the show at out-half and Ireland had three tries on board as Darren Sweetnam, Dave Kearney and Jack Conan crossed the whitewash.

But wing magician Nemani Nadolo handed

Fiji a lifeline before the break - and by the 48th minute the visitors were level.

The sides were still locked together as the game entered the final 10 minutes but the impact of Cian Healy and Keatley off the bench proved crucial.

Healy’s barnstorming runs gave Ireland fresh impetus and, when he was tackled illegally by Kini Murumurivalu in the 72nd minute, Keatley - on for the injured Carbery - cooly slotted the winning penalty.

Carbery had signalled his intent in the sixth minute with a loop move right out of the Johnny Sexton playbook.

And, moments later, the 22-year-old brilliantly seized his opportunity when he looked up and saw Campese Ma’afu facing him.

Deftly side-stepping the massive prop, Carbery burst into the Fiji 22 before releasing Sweetnam on the wing.

Nadolo couldn’t get close enough to lay a glove on the Munster man, who was over in the corner for his first Test try six minutes into his first start.

Ben Volavola converted a 21st minute penalty for Fiji after Kearney was caught offside but Ireland’s second try quickly followed.

Stuart McCloskey’s run opened up the space and quick hands from Carbery, McCloskey again and Andrew Conway gave Kearney room to score on his first Test appearance since February 2016.

Carbery’s penalty rebounded off the upright and there was further disappointment in the 33rd minute when another Kearney try was disallowed for a Conway knock-on in the air.

A minute later, however, the groans turned to cheers

Jack Conan couldn’t believe his luck when Dominiko Waqaniburotu spilled the ball and he was on hand to race in for his fourth try in five Tests. Carbery’s conversion split the posts and Ireland led 17-3.

Crucially, however, Fiji managed to score a try with just seconds remaining in the half and it was the artistry of Nadolo that made it. The Montpellier winger took off and his delicate grubber kick took out Sweetnam. Nadolo regained possession, charged past Conway and, as Kearney moved in, the ball was off-loaded to Henry Seniloli, who dived in under the posts.

Volavola’s conversion made it a seven point game but Ireland looked fair set to regain the upper hand early in the second half as a clever Carbery kick put them back in the Fiji 22.

Then Sweetnam’s darting run inside the right touchline almost sent Kieran Marmion clear but, moments later, the visitors grabbed an intercept try – and the sides were level.

Kearney realised Ireland had a three on two situation on the left flank but threw a kamikaze pass in McCloskey’s direction.

Timoci Nagusa pounced and couldn’t be caught, and Volavola’s conversion made it 17-17.

The loss of Carbery with a hand injury in the 62nd minute added to the growing sense of concern.

Keatley showed composure to kick the hosts ahead and as the clocked ticked down it was the Fijians who blinked first.

Murumurivalu lifted Healy’s legs at a ruck to concede a penalty and Keatley nailed the kick for victory.

NECK AND NECKChris Farrell is contained by the Fiji defence