Baloucoune and O'Brien at the double as Ireland see off stubborn Fiji

Ireland 43 

Fiji 15

Jake White, the Fiji head coach who guided South Africa to the 2007 World Cup title, believes his Fiji side has done Ireland a favour ahead of the Springbok visit to Dublin next week.

Andy Farrell’s side beat the Pacific islanders 43-15 after pulling away towards the end of the third quarter but the visitors put them to the pin of their collar by aping much of what the world champions will bring seven days down the line.

The Fijians were brutally physical on both sides of the ball and Ireland struggled with it. 

They trailed just 17-15 at the interval and played their part in forcing Ireland into errors before making decisions that cost his own team dear.

One of them was a quick tap penalty in the third quarter when they had Ireland under the pump and the percentage play was to kick to the corner in the 22 or call for a scrum that the Boks would have weaponised with relish.

“Well, I think we probably did Ireland a favour today,” said the much-travelled coach who is just three weeks with the Fijians. “Let me put it that way because I think Ireland deep down knows that if they play like that against South Africa, they’re going to be up against it.

“I know how South Africa operates. And they would have taken that scrum there. I mean, they would have backed the fact that they wanted to get a yellow card. They would have taken another scrum, and another scrum, and another scrum, and they wouldn’t have worried about the ref making a call about collapsing or early engaging.

“And there’s no way you can stop that. That doesn't mean what they do is wrong or right.

“South Africa, they will take the chances that we had. The five-metre lineouts that we didn’t take opportunities in, and the five-metre scrum and tap penalties, South Africa will turn those into points. And I’m sure that Andy and the players will be aware of that. I’m sure they’ve been around a long time, and they know what’s coming.

“That’s probably why he picked the team that he did, because he wanted to make sure that they get a little bit more gun-ready for next weekend, because the easiest thing would have been to change the team, and then they’d probably be one game shy of playing South Africa next week.” 

White knows his onions, in terms of rugby and the media, and he joked when asking that the headline to all this shouldn’t read: ‘Jake says, Boks to smash Ireland’. 

This is not what he was getting at. He just knows what’s coming when Rassies boys take their dressing-room.

His counterpart here has a few more injury worries to occupy him after this bruising win.

James McNabney gave a stunning four-minute cameo before being knocked out cold and being taken. 

The Ulsterman was able to walk off the pitch but he is now unavailable for the Boks and joins a long list of No.8s that are sidelined.

Caelan Doris, Jack Conan and Sean Jansen are the others.

Sam Illo is another doubt after the tighthead took a head knock of his own and had to be taken off for a HIA. 

Elevated to the role of second-choice tighthead in this window, he is starting return-to-play protocols.

Jamie Osborne was the other casualty. The centre suffered a pectoral injury only minutes into the game and was replaced by Stuart McCloskey.

“I'm pleased to get the win, especially the scoreline,” said Farrell. 

“I thought it flattered us a little bit, but having said that, you've got to work for those points and find a way, especially when after 25 minutes you're down by five points against a side that's playing pretty well as far as the physical nature of the game.

“I thought they was winning collisions, was good in the air, good on the floor, running really physically through the line, and the breakdown was pretty good, so they was on a roll, and when you've seen them like that before, you've seen them take some big scalps.

“So to come through with that scoreline and how we got ourselves back in the game, brought a bit of energy back to our game, which was a stop-start type game that we contributed to with a few errors, etc.

“But, you know, a stop-start nature in regards to having a look at ‘try or no try’ and how long that was and all of that, all in all, I think we need to understand that winning when you're under a bit of pressure, they're all pretty precious.” 

Next up: the Boks.

“It’s a fantastic challenge for us,” said Farrell.

Understatement of the year, that one.

IRELAND: M Hansen; R Baloucoune, J Osborne (S McCloskey, 4), B Aki, T O’Brien; S Prendergast (C Frawley, 60), J Gibson-Park (C Casey, 55); A Porter (T O’Toole, 63), R Kelleher (T Stewart, 60), T Furlong (S Illo, 49, Furlong 73 - HIA); J Ryan (D Murray, 55), T Beirne – captain; R Baird, J van der Flier, N Timoney (J McNabney, 49, Timoney 53 - HIA).

Yellow card: T Beirne 41-51 FIJI: P Loganimasi; S Ravutaumada, S Bituniyata (I Masi, 52), J Tuisova, J Wainiqolo; B Volavola (C Muntz, 72), F Lomani (T Tamani, 72); P Ravai (V Nairau, 52), T Ikanivere (Z Togiatama, 72), L Tagi (I Ravuiwasa, 52); J Tamani, I Nasilasila; M Vocevoce, L Tagagivalu (E Canakaivata, 52; Tagi 56-64 – YC FR rep), P Yato – captain (K Salawa, 25).

Yellow card: I Ravuiwasa 53-64 

Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia).