Ireland overwhelm Fiji as Prendergast gives Farrell a glimpse of bright future

11/23/2024 12:23 PM

• Ireland 52-17 Fiji
• Andy Farrell's shuffled pack ease to victory

Before Ireland had got within sight of the final quarter of this very watchable Test, their front row comprised a tight-head learning a new trade on the loose-head side, a hooker well settled into his first cap, and a tight-head winning his second. No cause for stress.

Andy Farrell's exercise in freshening things up was already a success by then. Not unqualified, but enough to be going on with. The coach's top reason to be cheerful was with Sam Prendergast at 10, a new kid looking like a star while outside him Robbie Henshaw was the old dog producing a few very useful new tricks.