Timoney bags a brace as Ireland flay Fiji

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Blindside flanker Nick Timoney starred as Ireland recorded an 11th successive home Test win by beating a flamboyant but undisciplined Fiji in Dublin on Saturday.

The Fijians scored the two most eye-catching tries of the game but two yellow cards and the sending off of Albert Tuisue early in the second half robbed them of any realistic chance of a first win over their opponents.

The Irish scored five tries – all converted – in a 35-17 victory but few of the fringe players who played will have done their chances much good of breaking into the starting line-up for the final Test against Australia next Saturday.

Timoney, though, will remember the match fondly as the second row forward touched down twice for his first tries for his country.

Fiji made an explosive start Kalaveti Ravouvou, scoring a superb try after a delightful passing move which caught the Irish flat-footed. The Irish also lost centre Robbie Henshaw to injury at the same time.

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The Irish were rocked and took their time to get their act together before Timoney went over in his third Test for his country. Joey Carbery converted to pull them level at 7-7.

The Fijians were reduced to 14 men shortly before the 20th minute as prop Manasa Saulo was sin-binned by Mathieu Raynal. It only took a minute for the Irish to make them pay as Timoney scored his second and Carbery added the extras.

The Irish extended their lead after Jamison Gibson-Park’s long pass picked out the unmarked Robert Baloucoune, who touched down.

The Fijians managed to keep the Irish out for the rest of the half but their indiscipline cost them early in the second period with a red card in the 46th minute for Tuisue after a high tackle on Carbery. A yellow card for Apisalome Ratuniyarawa in the 51st minute then reduced Fiji to 13 men.

The Irish made heavy weather of the superior numbers, only scoring their fourth try on the hour as Mack Hansen crossed in the corner.

The Fijians hit back with a stunning try, created by the genius of Jiuta Wainiqolo, who burst through the Irish midfield. He had the presence of mind to pass one-handed to Simione Kuruvoli, who outpaced Hansen to touch down.

The hosts finally put the match to bed with a try by veteran prop Cian Healy.

© Agence France-Presse

Photo: @IrishRugby/Twitter

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Devin Hermanus