Nations Championship: Fiji remain winless after Irish loss

The Flying Fijians' losing run in the Nations Championship continued in Dublin, as they were hammered 43-15-by Ireland.

In the Nations Cup, Tonga could not hold out Georgia, losing 55-31 in Tbilisi, while Samoa grabbed their second consecutive win on the road, beating Portugal 36-5 in Lisbon.

For Fiji, costly errors - including the inability to win their own lineout throws, conceding the scrum battles and losing the ball when in possession - continued to plague their campaign.

The loss means the Pacific Islanders have lost all five of their championship matches so far, with just one more game to go for them in the series.

Match commentators said it was a tale of what might have been once again for the islanders, just like they had done in the last five championship matches they have played so far this year.

Although they stayed in the contest in the first 40 minutes, their inability to keep the basics right worked against them, as Ireland took advantage and piled the points on in the second 40 minutes to keep their record against Fiji at home safe.

Ireland managed to score seven tries, two each to wingers Tommy O'Brien and Robert Baloucoune. Other tryscorers were Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter and Nick Timoney.

Flyhalf Sam Prendergast added six points from three successful conversions, while replacement Ciaran Frawley also got a kick through for two points.

Fiji managed only two tries to captain Peceli Yato and Josua Tuisova, while flyhalf Ben Volavola added five points through a conversion and a successful penalty kick.

New head coach Jake White has had just one victory with the side, since taking over last month, that coming against Japan in a one-off international.

He has now had two setbacks, losing to France last weekend and today's beating by the Irish at the Aviva Stadium.

White's disappointment in the coaching box was caught on television during the game and he told the media his Fiji side "did Ireland a favour".

"Let me put it that way, because I think Ireland deep down know that, if they play like that against South Africa, they're going to be up against it."

Ireland led 17-15 at halftime.

Ireland started well

The hosts started the game well, with O'Brien claiming the first try of the game in the eighth minute. Prendergast kicked the conversion for the 7-0 advantage.

Eight minutes later, halfback Jamison Gibson-Park went over the Fiji line, after he picked up from the base of the scrum five metres out, but referee Agnus Gardner and the TV match official ruled that out, after replays showed Gibson-Park had lost the ball over the line.

The Flying Fijians did not let go of their hold on the Irish lead and that resulted in Tuisova's try in the 18th minute.

'The Bus' ran onto a Frank Lomani pass off a lineout win close to the Irish line, bulldozed his way through the defensive wall and planted the ball firmly for his try. Volavola missed the conversion attempt.

Then in the 22nd minute, captain Yato, who was getting some assistance with his knee inside the Irish 22-metre zone, stood up to take a pass from Jiuta Wainiqolo, who had broken free from the Irish grasp, to dive over and put the visitors ahead 12-7 on the scoreboard.

However, Baloucoune was on hand to score a double from out wide, running into free space both times, after the Irish had sucked the Fijian defence in to create overlaps on the flanks.

Volavola slotted in a late penalty, after the hooter had sounded for halftime, keeping Fiji in the game, as the two teams ran off for the break.

Irish domination

A disappointing second-half performance from the Flying Fijians saw Ireland take control.

The islanders failed to score any points after the break, as the Irish rallied to score 26 unanswered points and keep their hopes of topping the Nations Championship northern hemisphere standings alive.

Two early knock-ons from Fiji - one unforced from a lineout maul - gave the possession back to Ireland early.

Four minutes after the restart, the hosts drove a lineout maul towards the Fijian line and hooker Kellaher was over in the corner.

Replacement prop Inoke Ravuiwasa was yellow-carded for a swinging arm tackle nine minutes later and the Irish extended their lead with Potter going over.

O'Brien had his second for the match, when he chased a Prendergast grubber kick, and then Timoney crashed through under the crossbar for his try with three minutes remaining, as Ireland clocked off with another good win.

Tonga second best

Meanwhile, in the Nations Cup, Georgia marked their 300th international match with a fifth straight win to be crowned Pool B champions with a round to spare.

They defeated Tonga 55-31, their biggest win over the Friendly Islanders to date.

The bonus-point success was rapturously received by the home crowd, as the Lelos outscored their opponents by eight tries to five in a fiery clash.

Georgia captain Davit Niniashvili, who played outstandingly during the game, said it was great to have won against Tonga and create a bit of history.

"It feels good," he said. "We prepared for this and knew Tonga are big boys.

"The second half was good and, when we have this support behind us, it gives us even more energy, so I hope they will keep coming to support us."

Tonga captain Ben Tameifuna said they gave Georgia the opportunities, which their hosts successfully converted into points.

"You can't give easy ball to a team like Georgia, especially with the set-piece they have," he said. "I'm definitely proud of the team and I feel like we are definitely heading in the right direction, but congratulations to Georgia."

Tameifuna put Tonga ahead with a close-range score early, but they lost Patrick Pellegrini to the sinbin for a deliberate knock-on.

Georgia scored twice in six minutes through Vano Karkadze, after they took advantage of the one-man advantage.

His first was an easy close-range finish and he repeated the trick for his second try with a similar effort, before scrumhalf Vasil Lobzhanidze added a third home score.

Tonga cut the hosts' lead, when flanker Semisi Paea claimed their second try, following a superb maul.

Georgia led 22-14 at halftime, but lost Akaki Tabutsadze to a yellow card after the second half resumed, and winger John Tapueluelu collected a stunning offload from full-back Taniela Filimone to run in from the corner to score for Tonga.

Georgia came back strong with three more tries, while Tonga responded with tries to Veikoso Poloniati and Lotu Inisi.

The 'Ikale Tahi also had Fetuli Paea sin-binned late.

Samoa victorious in Lisbon

Samoa showed their class to comfortably dispatch Portugal 36-5 in an impressive bonus-point victory at Estadio do Restelo.

The visitors surged into a commanding 24-0 lead over Os Lobos in the Portuguese capital.

Tries from Peter Umaga-Jensen, captain Theo McFarland, Niko Jones and Latrell Ah Kiong put them in total control at the break in the first-ever test match between the sides.

Portugal hit back through Domingos Cabral, but Samoa added further late scores through McFarland and Miracle Faiilagi in the second spell to win the contest.

Manu Samoa kept with the same side that beat Zimbabwe so impressively last weekend.

They led in the sixth minute, when former Hurricanes centre Umaga-Jensen brilliantly burst through midfield to score, before captain McFarland added a second with a pick-and-go try.

Then Jones, son of All Blacks and Manu Samoa legend Sir Michael, got into the act with a similar close-range effort, as the islanders found top gear early.

Ah Kiong, who scored a hattrick against Zimbabwe seven days previously, added Samoa's fourth, when he raced clear from halfway, after intercepting an errant Portugal pass.

Portugal hit back through Cabral in the 61st minute, but McFarland's second try and Faiilagi's late score set the seal on a fine win for Samoa.