Ireland's next generation shine in Fiji audition

Ireland's third autumn international with Fiji was billed as Sam Prendergast's audition to become the long-term successor to Johnny Sexton.

However, after 80 minutes of predominantly clinical and sometimes chaotic rugby, Andy Farrell has more than just the fly-half position to think about going forward.

Given his chance after an injury-hit start to the season for Ireland's senior hookers Dan Sheehan, Ronan Kelleher and Rob Herring, Gus McCarthy put in a storming performance after just six senior appearances for Leinster.

The 21-year-old could barely contain his emotions during the anthems, and a well-taken try and three assists is some way to mark an international debut as a refreshed Ireland ran out 52-17 winners against the Fijians.

The way his team-mates celebrated with McCarthy after his try showed how much they valued his performance, which has surely thrown his name into the reckoning to face Australia.

For Farrell, he was impressed with how McCarthy bounced back after his first line-out call was pulled for being not straight, and he even finished the game at flanker as the team was forced into a reshuffle after a number of injuries.

"What a story for Gus," said Farrell.

"Two years ago, he was lifting the Senior Cup at Caelan's old school, and I thought he did a brilliant job.

"It was a harsh call on the first line-out but it never bothered him and he kept on going.

"To play 80 minutes and finish the game at number seven, him and his family will remember that forever."

For Prendergast, it was a mixed opening half-hour as he was given a chance to showcase his abilities from the start for the first time.

There has been a lot of hype and expectation after the emergence of of the 21-year-old as he looks set to challenge Jack Crowley, who is currently Ireland's first-choice, and Ciaran Frawley, for the starting jersey at fly-half.

It was a rocky start. Minutes after landing his first conversion, Prendergast was shown a yellow card after a clumsy shoulder hit on Kitone Salawa.

He then sent a kick out on the full and squandered a try-scoring chance after hesitating on playing a killer pass, but settled and his standout moment came when his inch-perfect kick into the corner landed in the arms of Mack Hansen, who scored on the stroke of half-time.

Prendergast continued to conduct the backline, which became more makeshift as the game progressed, as he played the full 80 minutes and he kicked five of his seven conversion attempts.

"I thought he did great and he was really composed," added Farrell.

"There were a few mistakes within his game, obviously, but he was pulling the strings for a good while.

"It was tough against Fiji because you don't know what you are going to get at times. I thought it was a great showing from him."

Along with McCarthy, Ulster back row Cormac Izuchukwu was handed a debut from the start in Dublin.

Despite not stealing the headlines, Farrell was impressed with the 24-year-old and called him a "presence".

Izuchukwu quietly went about his business and was unfortunate to have a debut try scrubbed off in the first half after Hansen's pass was deemed to have crept forward by referee Hollie Davidson.

"I was gutted for Izzy with the forward pass," added the Ireland head coach.

"It would have been nice for him to get over the line. I thought he was a presence, certainly in the line out. He's some athlete."

Farrell made seven changes from the narrow win over Argentina as he looked to freshen his side up.

Aside from the trio mentioned above, scrum-half Craig Casey was impressive and put in a try-scoring performance, while the returning Bundee Aki was named player of the match.

Jacob Stockdale was handed his first Ireland start in 15 months after returning to top form with Ulster, but the wing was forced off with a hamstring injury early in the second half, which will be a concern to his provincial head coach Richie Murphy.

Leinster's Jamie Osborne had made a strong start too before being forced off before the break.

"It's everything," Farrell said on the depth he is trying to develop.

"I've always said about the competition for places, we need to give people opportunities to create that competition.

"It's pleasing, and obviously it was the wild west at the end in terms of substitutes and people playing out of positions. We managed that and the group grows with situations like this."

Ireland will round out their autumn with an additional fixture, and a tantalising one at that as Australia come to Dublin as the IRFU marks its 150th anniversary.

After Saturday's win added to a defeat by New Zealand and victory over Argentina, it should be a blockbuster end of Ireland's autumn campaign as Farrell's predecessor Joe Schmidt returns to Dublin with the Wallabies.

To add an extra storyline, it is also the final match before Farrell embarks on his new chapter as Lions head coach in 2025.

It hasn't been a golden autumn for Ireland but, as Farrell said, "the best has yet to come. It has to be".