Andy Farrell’s side made a successful start to the concluding home autumn portion of the inaugural competition in Dublin last weekend, brushing aside below-par Argentina 42-12 at the Aviva Stadium.
asserted
side → make → Stadium
Hugo Keenan notched a hat-trick as Ireland ran in six total tries against the unusually insipid Pumas, briefly moving top of the Northern Hemisphere standings before they were replaced by France.
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they → notch → France
That followed an eventful summer start to the first Nations Championship, in which they edged Australia in a thriller Down Under before easing past Japan and being emphatically beaten by New Zealand.
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they → follow → Zealand
Farrell will be keen to build some momentum ahead of a massive showdown with South Africa, which will be followed by finals weekend at Twickenham.
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which → build → Twickenham
Fiji go to Dublin on the back of a 54-17 hammering by injury-plagued France in Lyon, following a summer in which they played their Nations Championship “home” games on UK soil due to commercial considerations and their national stadium not being considered of a suitable standard to host regular Test matches.
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stadium → go → matches
They were demolished 73-8 by 11-try England in Liverpool after playing a whole half with 14 men, also beaten easily by both Wales and Scotland to leave them winless and bottom of the Southern Hemisphere table and seemingly destined to meet Italy on finals weekend, with an initial Test against the Azzurri coming up after this.
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Test → demolish → this
Fiji later beat Canada to make the final of the Pacific Nations Cup, which they lost 20-15 to hosts Japan in September.
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they → beat → September
Ireland vs Fiji date, kick-off time and venue
Ireland vs Fiji in the Nations Championship takes place on Saturday November 14, 2026 at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
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Ireland → take → Dublin
Read More
The match kicks off at 8:10pm GMT, which is 8:10am on Sunday morning in Fiji.
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which → read → Fiji
Ireland vs Fiji will be shown live and free-to-air in the UK on ITV.
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Ireland → show → ITV
Coverage begins at 7:30pm GMT on ITV1.
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Coverage → begin → ITV1
You can also watch the match live online via the ITVX website and app, which is free with a sign-up.
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which → watch → up
Ireland vs Fiji team news
Farrell has made seven changes to the Ireland team that started against Argentina, including a shock appearance at full-back for Mack Hansen as hat-trick hero Keenan is rested and Tommy O’Brien starts on the left wing opposite Robert Baloucoune.
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O’Brien → make → Baloucoune
Bundee Aki and Jamie Osborne form a new centre partnership in place of Stuart McCloskey and Robbie Henshaw, while Craig Casey makes way for Jamison Gibson-Park at scrum-half and Sam Prendergast retains the No10 jersey.
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Prendergast → form → jersey
Ronan Kelleher replaces Dan Sheehan at hooker due to concussion, with Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong starting again at prop.
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Porter → replace → prop
James Ryan comes in for Joe McCarthy to partner stand-in captain Tadhg Beirne in the second row, while Nick Timoney moves to number eight as Josh van der Flier starts at openside flanker and the injured Sean Jansen drops out.
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Jansen → come → flanker
Ulster back row James McNabney is poised to make his senior Ireland debut off the bench.
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McNabney → poise → bench
There are nine total changes from Fiji coach Jake White to the team that were soundly beaten by France, with Setareki Bituniyata making his debut at outside centre, partnered by Josua Tuisova.
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Bituniyata → be → Tuisova
They are captained from the back row by Peceli Yato.
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They → captain → Yato
Ireland vs Fiji lineups
Ireland XV: Hansen; Baloucoune, Osborne, Aki, O'Brien; Prendergast, Gibson-Park; Porter, Kelleher, Furlong; Ryan, Beirne (c); Baird, Van der Flier, Timoney
Replacements: Stewart, O'Toole, Illo, Murray, McNabney, Casey, Frawley, McCloskey
Fiji XV: Loganimasi; Ravutaumada, Bituniyata, Tuisova, Wainiqolo; Volavola, Lomani; Ravai, Ikanivere, Tagi; Tamani, Nasilasila; Vocevoce, Tagitagivalu, Yato (c)
Replacements: Togiatama, Nairau, Ravuiwasa, Salawa, Canakaivata, Tamani, Muntz, Masi
Ireland vs Fiji head to head (h2h) history and results
Fiji have never previously beaten Ireland, losing every time the two nations have met.
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nations → beat → Ireland
That includes a 52-17 loss on their last visit to Dublin in the autumn of 2024, when they shipped eight tries.
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they → include → tries
Ireland wins: 7
Fiji wins: 0
Draws: 0
Ireland vs Fiji prediction
It’s a well-worn cliche in international rugby that there are certain teams from which you just simply do not know what sort of performance you are going to get on any given matchday.
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you → ’ → matchday
It certainly applied to the frustratingly inconsistent France teams of old and maybe now Argentina, too.
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It → apply → old
It definitely describes Fiji.
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It → describe → Fiji
Capable of playing the most scintillating attacking rugby on their day and of bringing incredible physicality and intensity, at other times they are defensively woeful and picked apart far, far too easily.
Farrell has had his hand forced by a number of injuries in the Ireland camp following the emphatic win over the Pumas, but he’s still named a strong side fully capable of getting the job done in comfortable fashion ahead of meeting the Springboks.
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job → play → Springboks
Ireland to win, by 25 points.
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Ireland → win → points
Ireland vs Fiji match odds
Ireland to win: 1/40
Fiji to win: 19/1
Draw: 50/1
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odds → win → Fiji
The Aporia
