By BBC (Sports) | Created at 2024-11-23 19:13:49 | Updated at 2024-11-23 21:57:45
3 hours ago
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell was encouraged by how his much-changed side "controlled the game" in their 52-17 win over Fiji.
After an error-strewn showing in defeat to the All Blacks to start their autumn, and a nervy win against Argentina last weekend, this was Ireland's most convincing performance of their November series so far.
Having made seven changes from the victory over the Pumas, and included debutants Gus McCarthy and Cormac Izuchukwu in his starting side, Farrell was especially pleased by how those not considered front-liners acquitted themselves.
"I thought for all sorts of reasons it was very pleasing," he said.
"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.
"[Ireland] could've, should've done better at times, but I thought we controlled the game very well."
Ireland ended the game with scrum-half Conor Murray on the wing, hooker McCarthy as a flanker and number eight Caelan Doris in the centre and Farrell said the chaotic endgame resembled the "wild west" but felt his efforts to widen his panel had bore fruit.
"I've always said it about the competition for places, we need to give people the opportunity to create that competition," he added.
"Again, a lot of players have got a lot of potential. It's how they use it with the experience that they've just had.
"Yeah, it's pleasing, and obviously it was like the wild west towards the end in terms of substitutes and people playing out of position, but we managed that so the group grows in situations like this."
Despite an early yellow card for Sam Prendergast on his first Irish start, after giving away 13 penalties in both prior autumn games, Farrell thought this time around that Ireland's discipline helped them to victory.
"I thought our discipline was pretty good in general and it certainly added to the reason why, if you look at the story of the game and you fast forward it, I thought territory-wise and dominance-wise, yes, a couple of execution bits could have been better, but I thought our discipline added to our stronghold on the game."
Playing four games this autumn rather than their customary three, Ireland will face Australia next week in a Test that will mark the Irish Rugby Football Union's 150th anniversary. Farrell wants to see his side step up again to finish the block on a high.
"As you would expect me to say, the best is yet to come. It has to be," he said.
"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 so it's going to be a big week coming up."
