A strong first-half display from Ireland, which saw them rack up six tries, was enough to give them an eventual 64-17 win over Fiji at Lansdowne Road in Dublin.
The Irish, no doubt still on a high after their historic win over the world champion Wallabies last week, began the match in wonderful fashion when fullback Geordan Murphy scooted over for a try after five minutes.
David Humphreys, who equalled fellow Ulsterman Jackie Kyle's record 47 flyhalf caps, missed the conversion, but he managed his next attempt after a good run-in from inside centre Kevin Maggs.
Maggs had a slight bit of work to do from five metres out after a good long pass from captain Brian O'Driscoll allowed Justin Bishop enough space to come off his wing and open the gap for Maggs, who wrong-footed the Fijian defence with his angled incursion.
Humphreys and Fijian No.10 Nicky Little traded penalties shortly before the end of the first quarter, but Ireland extended their lead when Murphy beat the Fijian defenders to the ball after a clever chip-kick from Humphreys. Referee Tony Spreadbury double-checked with the TMO before awarding the try, Humphreys then missing the conversion to leave his team ahead at 20-3.
O'Driscoll, who was meant to sit out this match before replacing the injured John Kelly in the Irish XV, collected a five-pointer soon after Murphy's score. It was O'Driscoll's 17th try in his 32nd Test, equalling Brendan Mullin's all-time try-scoring record for Ireland.
Amazingly enough, injured hooker Keith Wood is third on Ireland's all-time try-scoring list with 14 from 51 Tests.
Wing Justin Bishop celebrated his return to Test action by scoring his eighth try in Irish colours, while Maggs capped of his team's superb first-half showing by scoring a try which had class stamped all over it.
Maggs had began the move by freeing lock Malcolm O'Kelly with a neat inside-pass and after a good run from the latter, and good linking from opensider Kieron Dawson, Maggs had the simple task of running the ball in.
Humphreys converted Maggs and Bishops' tries, leaving the score at 39-3 at half-time.
The second half saw the standard of rugby drop somewhat, but the game did open up, which allowed the Fijians, and in particular Waisale Serevi, a chance to throw the ball about.
Strangely enough, a knock-on from Serevi on Ireland's tryline denied Fiji their first try of the day, but thanks to an earlier indiscretion from Ireland the Fijians won a penalty, which they eventually converted into points when their No.7 flanker Alifereti Doviverata crashed over -- Little's conversion leaving the score at 39-10.
Ireland hit back with tries from Dawson and impressive No.8 Anthony Foley, but after coach Eddie O'Sullivan replaced the latter, O'Driscoll, Malcolm O'Kelly and John Hayes, Ireland seemed to lose concentration, while Fiji gave the ball some air.
Some Serevi magic, a dummy which caught the Irish team napping in their own 22, saw replacement flyhalf Joseph Narruhn get over for Fiji's second try of the day, which, for good measure Serevi converted to make the score 57-17.
Maggs, who delivered a huge performance in attack and defence, put the cherry on top for himself and Ireland by completing his hat-trick shortly before full-time after the hard work had been done by right-wing Shane Horgan. All Maggs had to do was run over the tryline, with Humphreys' conversion signalling the end of the match.
"We're pleased with our performance," said Humphreys after the match. "It was tough coming off last week's high, but we spoke about that during the week.
"We started well," he continued, "but we're disappointed with our second-half showing, although the game had lost its shape by then."
Man of the match: Malcolm O'Kelly and Anthony Foley impressed in the first half, with the quality of Ireland's game dropping shortly after they were replaced, while in the backline Kevin Maggs, Brian O'Driscoll and Geordan Murphy shone. For Fiji, Waisale Serevi impressed as did Wales-based lock forward Simon Raiwalui. However, in the end we settled for Maggs, for his superb showing from the crucial inside centre position. He directed things smoothly on attack and defence and weighed in with three tries too.
Moment of the match: Serevi's act of brilliance in the 66th minute, which caught Ireland's defence napping, allowing Joseph Narruhn a simple run-in off the Sevens wizard's shoulder.
Villain of the match: In the last quarter of the game, and with the Irish already massively ahead, Ireland won a penalty right under the Fiji posts. English referee Tony Spreadbury pointed to the posts, to the bemusement of the home crowd, and most importantly to the equal bemusement of goalkicker and stand-in captain David Humphreys. The Ulstermen insisted he had not called for posts, but Spreadbury was having none of it, and made it clear that the Irish could not run the penalty. Humphreys duly slotted it over with a sheepish look, but who was the real villain here? The referee? One of the Ireland players? Or perhaps a Fijian joker putting on an Irish accent?
The Teams:
Ireland: 1 John Hayes, 2 Frankie Sheahan, 3 Marcus Horan, 4 Malcolm O'Kelly, 5 Leo Cullen, 6 Kieron Dawson, 7 Alan Quinlan, 8 Anthony Foley, 9 Guy Easterby, 10 David Humphreys, 11 Shane Horgan, 12 Brian O'Driscoll (c), 13 Kevin Maggs, 14 Justin Bishop, 15 Geordan Murphy
Reserves: Gordon D'Arcy, Eric Miller, Reggie Corrigan, Mick O'Driscoll
Unused: Shane Byrne, Ronan O'Gara, Peter Stringer
Fiji: 1 Billy Cavubati, 2 Greg Smith (c), 3 Richard Nyholt, 4 Apenisa Naevo, 5 Simon Raiwalui, 6 Alifereti Doviverata, 7 Alfi Mocelutu Vuivau, 8 Sisa Koyamaibole, 9 Jacob Rauluni, 10 Nicky Little, 11 Fero Lasagavibau, 12 Seremaia Baikeinuku, 13 Viliame Satala, 14 Norman Ligairi, 15 Waisale Serevi
Reserves: Joseph Narruhn, Ifereimi Rawaqa, Sami Rabaka Nasagavesi, Seta Tawake Naivaluwaqa
Unused: Paula Biutanaseva, Isaac Mow, Isaia Rasila
Referee: Whitehouse n.
Points Scorers
Ireland
Tries: Murphy G.E.A. 2, O'Driscoll B.G. 1, Maggs K.M. 3, Bishop J.P. 1, Foley A.G. 1, Dawson K. 1
Conv: Humphreys D.G. 5
Pen K.: Humphreys D.G. 3
Fiji
Tries: Doviverata R.A. 1, Narruhn J. 1
Conv: Serevi W.T. 1, Little N.T. 1
Pen K.: Little N.T. 1
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