Simon Easterby rejects Fijian coach's 'training session' claim

FOCUS: Defence coach Simon Easterby. Picture: INPHO/Bryan Keane

Ireland’s Simon Easterby has rejected Fiji coach Vern Cotter's claim that the hosts will treat Saturday’s meeting at the Aviva Stadium as a training session as they look ahead to the visit of Australia seven days later.

The Fijians gave Scotland a scare last weekend before fading away in the second-half at Murrayfield but they are unquestionably a grade below that of South Africa, whom Ireland overcame six days ago, and the Wallabies.