Ireland come from behind to beat Fiji 43-15 and keep final hopes alive
Tommy O'Brien scored twice and Ireland scored 26 unanswered second-half points in Dublin, setting up a Nations Championship decider against South Africa.
Ireland came from behind to beat Fiji 43-15 at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday 14 November, keeping alive their hopes of reaching the Nations Championship final.
The hosts struggled for fluency and briefly trailed in an uncomfortable first half. Tommy O'Brien scored an early try and Robert Baloucoune added two, but tries from Josua Tuisova and Peceli Yato, plus a Ben Volavola penalty, kept Fiji in touch. Ireland led 17-15 at the break.
A stronger second half
Ireland took control after the interval. Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter and O'Brien crossed, and BBC Sport says they scored 26 unanswered points in the half. Nick Timoney also went over, according to both Sky Sports and BBC Sport.
Fiji, beaten 54-17 by France the previous week, remain without a point in the competition.
The two outlets give different accounts of the head-to-head record. Sky Sports says Ireland had won all six previous Tests between the sides, while BBC Sport says Fiji arrived without a win in nine meetings. Either way, Fiji have never beaten Ireland.
Standings and the road to the final
The result leaves Ireland level on 20 points with England, a point behind leaders France, in the northern hemisphere standings, according to Sky Sports.
Ireland host world champions South Africa in Dublin next Saturday. Sky Sports reports that they must beat the Springboks and hope that France, who host Argentina, and England, who face New Zealand, both falter. The prize is a place in the final at Twickenham on 29 November.
Andy Farrell's side will take the win but will know they need a much sharper start against South Africa.
Can Ireland beat South Africa and still need help from elsewhere?
