Ireland limped their way to victory over Fiji at the Aviva Stadium as Andy Farrell's side put together their final preparations for a clash with the World Champions next weekend.
Andy Farrell's side got locked in a surprisingly tight encounter against the struggling Southern Hemisphere side, as all 23 members of the Irish team pleaded their case to start next weekend against the Springboks.
Several Irish stars impressed as the hosts delivered enough of a performance to come out on top, although not everyone enjoyed their best night.
Here are our Ireland player ratings, with every player graded out of 10.
Scroll down for the Ireland player ratings vs. Fiji:
Ireland player ratings vs Fiji
Player ratings by Liam Reynolds, LIVE from the Aviva Stadium.
15. Mack Hansen - 8/10
Dealt with the shift from winger to fullback seamlessly. Similar to Hugo Keenan's play against Argentina, the Ireland fullback was in perfect position on multiple occasions, setting up Tommy O'Brien in the corner for Ireland's opener.
Noticeable difference compared to his usual play at 11, but he played his new role almost error-free. Could be expected to be an option at fullback following Jaime Osborne's early exit from the game.
Still showed flashes of his electric best even at fullback. Put together an incredible run of phases for Ireland's second score, setting Ireland up in the 22 with an impressive aerial contest before sweeping across to come up once again, in the perfect position to cause the Overlap that led to the score. Ireland's biggest creator in a first half full of errors.
14. Robert Balocoune - 6/10
The crowd picked up as soon as the Ulster winger got the ball, as usual. Looked to make things happen on the touchline, but took time for things to fall his way. Almost tried to force things on a down night, leading to multiple mistakes.
Patient enough to take his chance at a vital moment for Ireland's second. Hard to deny his impact again after picking up a second try to put Ireland ahead on the brink of half-time. Still, overall improvements are needed in attacking play outside of finishing compared to his perfect game against Argentina.
13. Jamie Osborne - 4/10
Left the game 3 minutes in. Looked outmatched physically in his brief cameo, which will come back to bite him in South Africa selections should he come up fit for the clash.
12. Bundee Aki - 5/10
Not much to write home about, otherwise standard night. Carried well.
11. Tommy O'Brien - 7/10
Exposed as a target to Fiji's high balls early in the game.
A step behind defensively, but continued to do what he does best, picking up his tenth try in ten appearances.
10. Sam Prendergast - 6/10
Attacking play looked disjointed early on across the backline, with Sam Prendergast's erratic decision-making and passing playing a massive part in their earliest struggles. Will be tested in much harder conditions next week.
Far too careless with possession, he also turned the ball over for Fiji's go-ahead score. Made up for his mistake with a perfectly threaded pass to Baloucoune for Ireland's second. Poor from the tee, a vital aspect next weekend if the Springboks' game against France is anything to go by.
Bounced back from his slow start with two try assists and looked near perfect with the ball in hand during the second half, with some tremendous moments including a beautifully threaded kick through to set up Tommy O'Brien for his second to seal the game.
9. Jamison Gibson-Park - 6/10
Impressive playmaking to take over as Ireland's primary creator, with Prendergast's early struggles. Not the flashiest, but one of Ireland's most important pieces on the night, showing up exactly when needed.
1. Andrew Porter - 8/10
Scrum looked like a solid platform early on. The most important aspect of the game heading into next week's clash. Looked to gain on almost every carry.
Scrum continued to go to work across the game, even when the rest of Ireland's platforms struggled.
A bright spark heading into next week's clash with a South African unit, coming off an impressive Friday night performance against France. Picked up a try as a cherry on top of an otherwise perfect game.
2. Ronan Kelleher - 7/10
Part of a solid scrum that dominated at the set piece. Made a massive impact without the ball, with ten tackles in the opening 40, finishing the night with the most tackles from an Irish perspective. Impressive vision to pick up Ireland's bonus-point try as well.
Overall, will slot in perfectly in the case that Dan Sheehan misses next week's game.
3. Tadgh Furlong - 7/10
Scrum looked like a solid platform early on. The most important aspect of the game heading into next week's clash. As mentioned last week, he looked back to his best, fitness-wise, getting stuck into things without the ball.
The biggest positive in an error-strewn first-half.
4. James Ryan - 5/10
Looked outmatched in the early stages, both physically and in set pieces. Ahead of South Africa next week, most likely not enough of a statement to really etch himself in the 15 in place of Joe McCarthy.
Read more about James Ryan's performance below.
5. Tadhg Beirne (Captain) - 5/10
Not quite at his usual best, picking up a yellow card. Struggled to make any sort of impact over the ball.
6. Ryan Baird - 4/10
After such an impressive showing in the lineout last week against Argentina, the returning Irish back rower seemed anonymous at the set piece in the early minutes of tonight's game. Not entirely at fault, but Maul defense seemed to struggle, costing an early try. A weakness that expectedly could be easily exploited against South Africa next weekend.
7. Josh Van Der Flier - 7/10
Needed to make a statement early on after being benched last week and did so, making a nuisance of himself over the ball, as expected of him. A real chip on his shoulder, with two forced mistakes from Fiji in the first ten minutes of the game.
Far outpaced Timoney on the night, beating the Ulster 8 in completed tackles. Also finished the night with the most metres carried
8. Nick Timoney - 4/10
16. Tom Stewart - 5/10
17. Tom O'Toole - 5/10
18. Sam Illo - 6/10
19. Daragh Murray - 5/10
20. James McNabney - 7/10
21. Craig Casey - 5/10
22. Ciaran Frawley - 5/10
23. Stuart McCloskey - 8/10
Read more about Stuart McCloskey's performance below.
Rate Ireland’s players v Fiji
Who impressed — and who needs to do better? Rate Ireland’s players out of five stars and have your say on tonight’s performance.
WHO WILL START FOR ANDY FARRELL'S IRELAND SQUAD AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA?
Heading into the upcoming Nations Championship slate of games, Ireland's head coach made it clear that no place in the 23 is safe. And with both injury and competition forcing Farrell to rotate, the statement has never been truer.
"They will stay hungry no matter what because that’s the type of people they are.
“But you’ve got to make sure that your squad is your strength, certainly with what’s coming up in the next 12 months."
“So it’s important that we keep feeding that competition for places.” The Ireland head coach stated.
IRELAND PREDICTED LINEUP VS SOUTH AFRICA
15. Hugo Keenan 14. Rob Balocoune 13. Stuart McCloskey 12. Bundee Aki 11. Mack Hansen 10. Sam Prendergast 9. Jamson Gibson Park
1. Andrew Porter 2. Dan Sheehan 3. Tadhg Furlong 4. Joe McCarthy 5. Tadhg Beirne 6. Ryan Baird 7. Josh Van De Flier 8. Nick Timoney
REPLACEMENTS: 16. Ronan Kelleher 17. Tom O'Toole 18. Sam Illo 19. James Ryan 20. Cian Prendergast 21. Craig Casey 22. Ciaran Frawley 23. Robbie Henshaw
No. 8: With Sean Jansen missing the rest of the tournament through injury, alongside the missing Jack Conan and Caelan Doris, the number eight position is wide open.
One of the biggest position battles in the National team, as discussed last week, Nick Timoney and Josh Van Der Flier were both vying for the No.7 shirt before the news of Jansen's injury, with both the Leinster and Ulster 7s set to start against South Africa. Despite that, there is still plenty of competition left in the squad.
13: The first big ongoing competition at the moment: Ireland's center pairing is far from solidified. During Ireland's clash in the summer against New Zealand, it was Garry Ringrose and Stuart McCloskey who formed the 12-13 pairing.
However, with Ringrose out through injury, the 13 shirt is up for grabs, with Jamie Osborne and Robbie Henshaw both vying for the spot, with Osborne starting at 13 on Saturday night.
Across his appearances so far this season, while the Leinster center has started most of his games coming in at center for his province, the Irish Swiss Army knife option has not started a game at center for the country since their game against Georgia two seasons ago.
Still, Osborne, who can play across almost the entire backline, has the trust of Farrell, filling in at 15 for Hugo Keenan mostly, including during the 2025/26 Six Nations, where the Leinster star was named as one of the biggest successes of the tournament by Ruck.
"Asked to come in to replace Hugo Keenan following his injury, Jamie Osborne did not put a foot wrong at fullback. Finishing with four tries and playing all five games, the Leinster centre made the fullback position his own. One of the biggest successes of the tournament."
However, after exiting the game just minutes in, Farrell will have a big decision to make this week.
With Henshaw holding the role, the Ireland coach will also have a decision to make on whether he keeps Bundee Aki in the starting 15, with McCloskey shifting to 13, where he had a massive night tonight, with the most carries of any Irish player in the first half, as well as the most offloads, with a try assist.
Looking ahead to a predictably physical test against the Boks next week, with Damien De Allende in the opposite channel, Ruck predicts that Farrell will go with Aki to start at 12, with McCloskey coming in at 13, as Henshaw drops to the bench.
4: During Ireland's Summer campaign in the Southern Hemisphere, James Ryan started all 3 games at lock alongside both Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Beirne. However, with Ryan Baird returning to the fold and reaffirming himself as the starting 6 for Ireland, allowing Beirne to return to his natural position, the four-shirt has become more valuable.
With both Joe McCarthy and Ryan competing for the spot, it appears Ryan's Leinster teammate McCarthy has pulled ahead after earning a start against Argentina last weekend.
"You have to put the team first, and everyone has a part to play, you know what I mean, one to 23.
"There is such competition in the national team across every position, really, which is great. I think everyone’s pulling in the same direction."
"It's just my role last week, everyone's got a part to play, and as we said earlier, there's this huge competition right across the board."
"For me, I would look at it as a great thing. It forces you to improve your game, to find new levels. I think it's a good thing." Ryan revealed during the week, as reported by RTÉ.
On the night, the Irish lock undoubtedly stepped up in some regards. With the most tackles for Farrell's men across the opening 40, finishing the night in second. Ryan played a massive role in shutting down the Fijian wave that threatened Ireland, with Jiuta Wainiqolo, Selestino Ravutaumada and Peni Ravai all completely bullying the Irish forwards behind the ball.
However, Farrell will still have a decision to make between Baird and Ryan, with one aspect in mind. After targeting the Argentinian lineout so well last weekend, it was Fiji who managed to turn the tables on Saturday.
Despite the Irish man having a notable night, Farrell will undoubtedly be looking to make changes in that area after the all-around poor showing tonight, and with Beirne being near undroppable heading into such a big game, it will most likely be McCarthy who comes back into the fold.
Embed
