Fiji expect to deliver best tour performance against Ireland in Dublin

The Pacific Islanders recovered from a slow start against Warren Gatland’s Wales and hung on for a famous victory having lost by 40 points in Murrayfield the week before when they were without a host of their top players.

ON A HIGH: Fiji's Jiuta Wainiqolo celebrates their side's win after the Autumn international match at Principality Stadium.

Fiji head coach Mick Byrne is confident that his touring side will be better than the collective that claimed a first-ever win in Cardiff against Wales two weeks ago when they face Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

The Pacific Islanders recovered from a slow start against Warren Gatland’s side and hung on for a famous victory having lost by 40 points in Murrayfield the week before when they were without a host of their top players.

Byrne has the services of some elite talent. Josua Tuisova and Waisea Nayacalevu form an intimidating midfield and the dependable Caleb Muntz goes again at out-half. Loosehead Eroni Mawi plays with Saracens.

The Australian has described it as the best team available to them.

“We noticed last year in the preparations for the World Cup when that squad came together and spent a good number of weeks leading into the tournament, that the combinations began to gel and we are finding that now.

“We had a really good week this week and just finished a great training session there. It was a nice fast and sharp session and the combinations were really coming good so the longer we can spend together as a team the better our combinations will be.

“We’ll definitely be in better shape than we were in the Wales week.” 

They will need to be, obviously.

Ireland might be operating below fifth gear, and Andy Farrell has made seven changes to his XV from Argentina, but this is an undoubted step up for Fiji who did beat England in Twickenham 15 months ago and pushed them close in the World Cup quarter-final too.

Byrne was able to rest his own stars a week ago when a much-changed Fijian side came from behind to edge out Spain in Madrid. It was an important breather and one that was strategically placed in between the visits to Cardiff and Dublin.

“We’ve had a couple of players that have been able to take a breather. Playing four Test matches in the northern hemisphere is not easy so to have the ability to give some players a break… You can only do that if the players coming in behind you are working really hard and the depth is improving.

“The last three years our depth has really improved, the depth of our programmes coming out of Fiji is improving and gives us an opportunity to freshen up some players and also gives us a chance to look at how we are. So it’s been a good learning curve for all of us this campaign.” 

Fiji: V Karawalevu; J Wainiqolo, W Nayacalevu, J Tuisova, P Loiganimasi; C Muntz, F Lomani, E Mawi, T Ikanivere, L Tagi; M Vocevoce, T Mayanavanua; R M Derenalgi, K Salawa, E Canakaivata.

Replacements: S Matavesi, H Hetet, S Tawake, S Turagacoke, A Tuisue, P Matawalu, V Botitu, S Maqala.