ANDY FARRELL HAILED the impact of Ireland’s young guns during his side’s impressive 52-17 win over Fiji.
The Ireland boss made seven changes to his starting XV after last week’s win over Argentina and was rewarded with an eight-try victory as the fresh faces impressed.
21-year-old hooker Gus McCarthy and 24-year-old blindside flanker Cormac Izuchukwu started on their Ireland debuts, 21-year-old out-half Sam Prendergast got his first Test start, 23-year-old Jamie Osborne came in at fullback, while Craig Casey and Jacob Stockdale got starting chances at scrum-half and on the left wing, respectively, as Bundee Aki returned to deliver a player-of-the-match performance in midfield.
Farrell was delighted with how the youngsters fared against a physical Fijian team.
“I was gutted for Izzy in regards to the forward pass [for a disallowed try in the first half], it was marginal, so Mack [Hansen] says anyway,” said Farrell.
“It would have been nice for him to get over the line. I thought he was a presence, certainly in the lineout. He’s some athlete.
“You give people these opportunities for them to realise their own potential. It’s what they do with that experience now, that’s going to be important pushing on.
“What a story there for Gus. Two years ago lifting the Senior Cup at Caelan’s school [Blackrock College]. I thought he did a brilliant job.
“A harsh call, I thought, on the first lineout but it never bothered him at all. He just kept going to play 80 minutes and played the finish at number seven. Himself and his family will remember that forever.”
Prendergast was yellow-carded in the first half but returned to shine at out-half, guiding Ireland’s attack to a flowing performance in Dublin.
The 21-year-old showed why Ireland are excited about his playmaking ability in the number 1o shirt.
“I thought he did great,” said Farrell. “I thought he was really composed. The kick to the corner [that was ruled to have gone dead], that was harsh as well but it didn’t bother him.
“He had a few mistakes within his game but he was pulling the strings for a good while, and he was really, really composed.
“It’s tough against Fiji because you don’t know what you’re going to get in front of you at times.
“Certainly, the breakdown is an absolute mess at times because they’re so ferocious there and they’re so short defensively that you can see the space but you have them shooting out from out wide, and to have the composure and play the line like he did at times, I thought it was a great showing from him.”
Prendergast ensured some nervous minutes in the opening half as he sat in the sin bin awaiting an off-field decision on whether his yellow card would be upgraded to a red.
The Irish out-half had delivered a high hit on Fijian flanker Kitione Salawa but it was deemed not to carry a high degree of danger and Prendergast returned.
“For me, he turned his back and it’s harsh enough, like, you know?” said Farrell of Prendergast’s yellow.
“I don’t know, I’ll have to have a look at it again but that’s the game, isn’t it?
Osborne was unlucky to be forced off injury after just 28 minutes, having made a strong start at number 15 and he looks like a big doubt for next weekend against Australia.
“Jamie is adductor,” said Farrell.
“He couldn’t carry on, so that doesn’t look bright at the minute.”
Ulster wing Stockdale limped off in the second half and is also an obvious doubt.
“He pulled up sharp with a hamstring so obviously we’ll see how that is tomorrow,” said Farrell.
“But he pulled up quite sharp, so I was gutted for him.”
Overall, Farrell was a happy man after his side’s big win in their third international of this autumn window.
“I thought for all sorts of reasons it was very pleasing. I think first and foremost there’s some really nice stories within our group, with two debutants and people getting a chance to get their second, third start, or somebody like Jacob Stockdale who’s not played for quite some time.
“To get the win, play some nice rugby, could’ve, should’ve done better at times but I thought we controlled the game very well.”
Ireland will wrap up their campaign against Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies next Saturday. The Australians clash with Scotland tomorrow following their recent wins against England and Wales.
Whatever about the Wallabies’ form, Farrell expects Ireland to finish with a bang in his last game before leaving for the Lions job.
“The best is yet to come,” said Farrell. “It has to be. We’re playing against a buoyant Australian side that play some really nice rugby, but the week’s going to be a special one for us.
“It’s going to be a marked game for the 150th anniversary. We talk a lot about the shirt and what it means for us. It’s going to be a big week coming up.”
I thought the ref was excellent today. It’s amazing how our opponents’ penalty count is much higher when a decent referee is in the middle. There are too many one-eyed refs in rugby these days. Well done, Holly
@Stuart Z Quinn: thé very first ruck, she penalized a Fiji player for running beyond the ruck and preventing an Irish player clearing out, something Argentina got away with multiple times last week. Probably the Irish staff had highlighted that before match but still she was letting a lot less go at the breakdown compared to Berry last week
@Stuart Z Quinn: she was very good
@Stuart Z Quinn: Holly Davison is one of the better refs in the game, so it’s no surprise. The clarity of her communications seems to get a lot of respect from players.
@Stuart Z Quinn:
I don’t agree. Some decisions against Fiji (missing a maul, stopping play to verify a short grounding a knock on when there was none and was a clear try scoring opportunity for Fiji not to mention many others).
I wouldn’t be drawing any conclusions from this, it was obviously a big step up and a nervy occasion and she has the confidence and presence to be a big referee in the future
@Stuart Z Quinn: she was excellent. Outstanding communicator.
Good win and nice to see some exciting attacking play. Although it was pure sloppiness with forward passes that left a few additional scores out there. A word to Gus Mac. An incredible story! Right place, right time. As a Leinster fan it’s so exciting but it’ll be very difficult to keep a hold of him. There’ll be a certain team or two sniffing after him.
@Carmine Lorenzo: Realistically, he prob needs a move – he’s too far down the pecking order at Leinster to get enough game time, as they have so many top class players in his position. Great prospect, and certainly grabbed his opportunity in the shop window!
@Sean Creaven: as a Munster fan, would love to have him down south but if I was Leinster, I’d hold on to him. IMO, he’ll be ahead of Kelleher eventually- his handling is different level. Sheehan still best but this guy M’ Carty is an unbelievable player
@Michael Corkery: As a Connacht fan, I still think he needs to go… and probably to Munster.
@Sean Creaven: No he doesnt
@Sean Creaven: Give Gus a break – he has not even finished his academy contract yet. He will be upgraded to a senior contract in February and then he has 2 years to make his claim. With Kelleher and Sheehan out injured quite a bit, who knows how things will fare out for him before RWC 2027.
@Michael Corkery: Barron or McKee would be more likely to move. Barron is a good solid player, aggressive, but looks too light to make the step up. McKee seems to have added bulk every time he plays
@Shawn: I said ‘I think..’ – so, expressing an opinion.
You may disagree, but that doesn’t make you right and me wrong.
@Sean Creaven: As Paul says, he’s only year 2 of his academy deal. So likely in no rush. It’s a fairly meteoric rise for him however will be interesting to see how the next 18 months pans out for him club wise.
@Sean Creaven: love opinions
Where’s Ray Ridge?
There’s not enough negativity towards Ireland
@Mandog68 Mandog68: Watching man city win the league in october id say ah well
@Shawn: yeah probably
@Mandog68 Mandog68: you’re cracking me up!!!!
@Mandog68 Mandog68: That guy is a total tool. He probably has zero friends in his actual life and craves the attention online as a substitution.
No sign of Ray Ridge/Aidan Farrell….game clearly didn’t go their way…no doubt they’ll be lavishing praise on a disastrous English series