Ireland Autumn Internationals Squad 2022 – Ireland 35-17 Fiji

Ireland made heavy weather of racking up their 16th win in 18 matches. A team showing nine changes from the side that beat South Africa, and led for the first time by Tadhg Furlong, scored five converted tries against the Pacific Islanders.

Flanker Nick Timoney (two), wings Robert Baloucoune and Mack Hansen, and replacement prop Cian Healy bagged the tries, with Joey Carbery and debutant Jack Crawley sharing the conversions. But Ireland went scoreless for 36 minutes in a performance that head coach Andy Farrell called “pretty underwhelming”.

Not for the first time, Fiji suffered from discipline issues, with Manasa Saulo and Api Ratuniyarawa being sin-binned and Albert Tuisue seeing red after clattering into Joey Carbery, shoulder on head, in the 45th minute. It was Fiji’s 18th red card in history.

Scores by Kalaveti Ravouvou and Simione Kuruvoli showed their attacking prowess but the islanders are being slow to heed lessons. They picked up three cards the week before too.

Fly-half Carbery, making his first start since the Italy match last February, will be frustrated at having to depart the field after the Tuisue tackle. And Robbie Henshaw lasted only four minutes before injury forced him to give way to Garry Ringrose.

As well as Crawley, there were first caps for Munster prop Jeremy Loughman and Connacht back-row Cian Prendergast.

Ireland Team to Play Fiji – Saturday 12 November

Jimmy O’Brien; Robert Baloucoune, Robbie Henshaw, Stuart McCloskey, Mack Hansen; Joey Carbery, Jamison Gibson-Park; Jeremy Loughman, Rob Herring, Tadhg Furlong (capt), Tadhg Beirne, Kieran Treadwell, Caelan Doris, Nick Timoney, Jack Conan.

Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Tom O’Toole, 19 Cian Prendergast, 20 Max Deegan, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Jack Crowley, 23 Garry Ringrose.

Ireland debutants Jeremy Loughman (left), Jack Crowley and Cian Prendergast (Sportsfile/Getty)

Ireland 19 South Africa 16

Ten months out from the World Cup in France. Ten wins at home in a row. And ten bells knocked out of each other – there was a lot to marvel at as Ireland defeated South Africa 19-16 in the Autumn Nations Series.

It was as tense as it was physical. The first half finished 6-6, and there were incredible defensive shots and hard-earned turnovers aplenty.

But the second half had an added dimension hammered on after the Josh van der Flier try against the Springboks. Soon enough Mack Hansen was flying over for a brilliant team score.

South Africa came roaring back with scores from Franco Mostert and Kurt-Lee Arendse, the latter built on an exceptional offload by Eben Etzebeth. However, Ireland’s grunt up front and in-game learning from what South Africa threw at them set the hosts apart.

Ireland Team to Play South Africa – Saturday 5 November

Hugo Keenan; Robert Baloucoune, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, Mack Hansen; Johnny Sexton (capt), Conor Murray; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan, Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris.

Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Kieran Treadwell, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Joey Carbery, 23 Jimmy O’Brien.

Ireland Autumn Internationals Squad 2022

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has named a 37-strong squad for the Autumn Internationals fixtures against South Africa, Fiji and Australia.

The squad features six uncapped players: Calvin Nash, Jimmy O’Brien and Ciaran Frawley in the back-line and Jeremy Loughman, Joe McCarthy and Cian Prendergast up front.

Nash, McCarthy, Prendergast and Ulster wing Robert Baloucoune are selected having played on the recent Emerging Ireland tour of South Africa.

Jacob Stockdale could win his first cap since the summer of 2021, while Stuart McCloskey, a late addition to the Ireland squad that conquered New Zealand in the summer, has also been named following the suspension of Bundee Aki. Aki was banned for eight games after a reckless ruck clear-out and is not available for the Tests against the Springboks and Fiji.

Hugo Keenan is included despite being sidelined this season with abdominal and knee injuries. But James Lowe, Iain Henderson, Keith Earls, Rónan Kelleher, Jordan Larmour and Andrew Conway all miss out as they continue their rehabilitation from injuries.

Johnny Sexton will continue as captain.

There is also an Ireland A fixture scheduled for the RDS on Friday 4 November against a New Zealand All Blacks XV, for which Farrell has named an additional 12 players.

Ireland will play two home World Cup warm-ups next summer against Italy on 5 August and England on 19 August, both at Aviva Stadium.

Ireland Autumn Internationals Squad 2022

Backs

(DoB/Province/Position/Test debut/caps)

Ireland Autumn Internationals Fixtures 2022

Sat 5 November       Ireland 19-16 South Africa, Aviva Stadium

Sat 12 November     Ireland 35-17 Fiji, Aviva Stadium

Sat 19 November     Ireland v Australia, Aviva Stadium, 8pm Live on Amazon Prime

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