Ireland shake off sluggish start to brush aside Fiji

Ireland recovered from a sluggish first-half performance to wear down spirited Fiji and keep alive their hopes of topping the Nations Championship northern hemisphere table with a bonus-point win in Dublin. After thumping Argentina last week, Ireland failed to click in an unconvincing opening, with Tommy O'Brien's early try and a Robert Baloucoune double enough for a 17-15 lead.

Fiji arrived in Dublin without a win in nine previous meetings against their hosts, and having been thrashed 54-17 by France last week. But they dreamed of a historic win after tries from Josua Tuisova and Peceli Yato, and a Ben Volavola penalty, kept them firmly in the contest at the break.

However, Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter and O'Brien crossed as Andy Farrell's men scored 26 unanswered second-half points to deny the Pacific Islanders, who remain without a point in the competition. The result left Ireland two points off northern hemisphere leaders France before next week's mouthwatering tussle with world champions South Africa in Dublin.