Rookies face being stood down for Test

Ireland XV 53 Fiji 0

Whether this eight-try blanking of a demoralised and under-appreciated Fiji — Craig Gilroy administering first aid to a cramp-stricken Fijian summed up their level of support from the world game — will have proved instructive is open to debate but it is hard to see the performances of several young Test hopefuls as anything but a positive.

Taken in isolation for what it was, a non-cap friendly against tier-three opposition, Saturday night’s whitewashing was a resounding success.