Fiji boss claims Sam Prendergast escaped red card due to ‘wearing green jersey’

Fiji head coach Mick Byrne suggested Ireland fly-half Sam Prendergast escaped an early red card during his side’s defeat in Dublin because he was playing for the home team.

Rookie No 10 Prendergast, who was making his first Test start, was sent to the sin-bin by referee Hollie Davidson in the eighth minute at the Aviva Stadium after leaning a shoulder into Kitione Salawa. Shocked Fiji co-captain Tevita Ikanivere was heard exclaiming, “what?” on Davidson’s microphone following the decision not to upgrade the yellow card on review.

While Byrne was also unhappy with the judgment, Ireland coach Andy Farrell felt the original punishment was “harsh enough”. Asked if he was expecting Prendergast to be ordered to stay off, Byrne said: “Aw no, he was wearing a green jersey so it stayed yellow.”

Prendergast, 21, returned to set up the first of Mack Hansen’s two tries and also slotted five of his seven conversion attempts. Captain Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Craig Casey, Bundee Aki, debutant Gus McCarthy and Ronan Kelleher also claimed tries for the dominant hosts.

Farrell said: “I get why it is [a yellow] but, to me, he turned his back and it’s harsh enough. I’ll have to have a look at it again, but that’s the game, isn’t it? I thought our discipline was pretty good in general.

“He [Prendergast] had a few mistakes within his game, but he was pulling the strings for a good while, and he was really, really composed.”

Farrell made seven changes for the game, including handing first caps for McCarthy and flanker Cormac Izuchukwu and a maiden start for Prendergast. His much-changed side produced Ireland’s most convincing display of an autumn campaign which began with a sobering defeat by New Zealand and a narrow success over Argentina.

“For all sorts of reasons it was very pleasing,” said Farrell. “There’s some really nice stories within our group, with two debutants and ­people getting a chance to get their second, third start.

“To get the win, play some nice rugby, could have, should have done better at times, but I thought we controlled the game very well.”

Ireland, who host Australia next week, are awaiting injury news on Jacob Stockdale (hamstring) and Jamie Osborne (groin) following a bruising encounter.

Fiji, who scored tries through Salawa and Setareki Turagacoke, conceded 17 penalties during the contest. “At the end of the day, it’s on us, we need to get better,” Byrne said of the high penalty count. “But the 50-50s, that last try [Kelleher’s], if you have another look at it, the green jersey holding on to the white jersey, nothing happens at TMO. I’m sure if it was the other way around, we might not have got that try allowed.”

Team details

Ireland: Osborne, Hansen, Henshaw, Aki, Stockdale, S. Prendergast, Casey, Porter, Mccarthy, Bealham, McCarthy, Beirne, Izuchukwu, van der Flier, Doris.
Replacements: Kelleher, O’Toole, Clarkson, Henderson, C. Prendergast, Murray, Frawley, McCloskey.

Fiji: Karawalevu, Wainiqolo, Nayacalevu Vuidravuwalu, Tuisova, Loganimasi, Muntz, Lomani, Mawi, Ikanivere, Tagi, Vocevoce, Mayanavanua, Derenalagi, Salawa, Canakaivata.
Replacements: Matavesi, Hetet, Tawake, Turagacoke, Tuisue, Matawalu, Botitu, Maqala.

Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)

05:30 PM GMT

Job done for Ireland

05:27 PM GMT

Ireland’s Autumn Nations schedule

Friday 8 November: Ireland 13-23 New Zealand

Friday 15 November: Ireland 22-19 Argentina

Today: Ireland 52-17 Fiji

Saturday 30 November: Ireland vs Australia

05:21 PM GMT

The thoughts of player of the match, Bundee Aki

05:19 PM GMT

Meanwhile in Cardiff

Warren Gatland’s Wales have lost 11 straight games and who is in town tonight; back-to-back world champions South Africa! You can follow that game, which kicks off at 5.40pm, with our dedicated live blog.

05:12 PM GMT

This weekend’s Autumn Nations fixtures

Friday:

France 37-23 Argentina

Today:

Ireland 52-17 Fiji

Wales vs South Africa 5.40pm

Italy vs New Zealand 8.10pm

Tomorrow:

Scotland vs Australia 1.40pm

England vs Japan 4.10pm

05:11 PM GMT

Full-time

From deep inside their own 22, S Prendergast kicks it out to bring the game to a close. Ireland have won convincingly 52-17. One more game in 2024 remains for Ireland; a reunion with Joe Schmidt next weekend with Australia travelling to Dublin.

05:09 PM GMT

TRY! Kelleher scores after neat set-piece move

That is a clever try from the hosts. Kelleher throws to the front and gets it straight back from Doris, who had broken from the back of the maul. He is running towards the line and cuts inside to score.

After the try if scored, it then kicks off as a brawl is sparked but no need for the TMO to step in.

S Prendergast misses the conversion but the Ireland 50 is brought up.

05:06 PM GMT

77 mins: Ireland 47 Fiji 17

Fiji are penalised for side entry just inside their own half and once again Ireland will have a chance of a lineout inside the Fiji 22.

Akim, who was left out last week against Argentina, has been named man of the match.

05:00 PM GMT

71 mins: Ireland 47 Fiji 17

Aki gathers in a pass on the edge of the Fiji 22 and gets through the gap. When he hits contact, he keeps his legs going and the momentum takes him towards the line. Plenty of players get involved in the maul and Aki is held up over the line.

04:58 PM GMT

TRY! Hansen over in the corner

Ireland are just a few metres short of the Fiji line and Casey fizzes a pass out to Hansen on the right-hand touchline. The winger dives over in the corner.

04:56 PM GMT

67 mins: Ireland 42 Fiji 17

That will frustrate the Fijian coaching staff. They do not deal with the kick-off and lose possession. They concede the penalty and, after Turagacoke dives over the ruck, he is shown a yellow card.

04:54 PM GMT

TRY! Turagacoke goes over

Lovely try from the visitors. They are going to lose but they will not give up. Between the halfway line and the Ireland 22, great footwork from, Muntz gets him through and then passes to his left to find Turagacoke, who goes over untouched. Muntz gets the easy conversion.

04:53 PM GMT

TRY! G McCarthy over on debut

A great moment for the hooker on his Ireland debut. They win the lineout and set the maul, which Fiji cannot prevent from going over. McCarthy is at the rear and dots down for his first try in the green of Ireland. Another successful conversion from S Prendergast and Ireland now lead 42-10.

04:51 PM GMT

63 mins: Ireland 35 Fiji 10

Another penalty conceded by Fiji and another opportunity for Ireland to kick into the corner.

04:50 PM GMT

62 mins: Ireland 35 Fiji 10

Prendergast puts a little grubber through from the edge of the Fiji 22 but Muntz was on hand for the visitors to dot down for a drop-out. Neither Hansen nor Murray got anyway near that grubber.

04:45 PM GMT

59 mins: Ireland 35 Fiji 10

Ireland probably should have scored there. They send it into the wide channels through a terrific, pinpoint pass from S Prendergast. Frawley has Murray to his outside but the pass goes forward. Murray has come on on the wing having replaced the injured Stockdale.

04:43 PM GMT

57 mins: Ireland 35 Fiji 10

After Fiji knock on from the kick-off, Ireland then win a penalty inside the Fijian 22. To the corner they go...

04:42 PM GMT

TRY! Sawala gets Fiji’s first of the day

Fiji have their first try of the match. They have not been close to the Irish line on many occasions today but they strike now. At the breakdown around 10 metres out, Sawala spots a gap and drives through. He cannot be stopped and reaches out to score. He has been one of Fiji’s best players today. Muntz lands the conversion.

04:39 PM GMT

53 mins: Ireland 35 Fiji 3

Ireland come through the side at the maul and Fiji have another penalty. They go back to the corner.

04:38 PM GMT

52 mins: Ireland 35 Fiji 3

Fiji win a scrum penalty just inside the Ireland half. The kick to the corner is exceptional and the visitors will have a five-metre lineout.

04:36 PM GMT

50 mins: Ireland 35 Fiji 3

Off a lineout inside the Fiji half, Ireland attack nicely with a series of neat offloads that gives Hansen space down the right. He is smashed into touch though by Salawa inside the Fijian 22.

Ireland are now forced into a change in the backs as Stockdale limps off injured. Scrum-half Murray is on in his place so that will require a re-shuffle in the back-line.

04:33 PM GMT

49 mins: Ireland 35 Fiji 3

Two Prendergasts on the pitch now as Cian joins Sam on the field.

04:31 PM GMT

TRY! Aki gets Ireland’s fifth

Ireland make good ground into the Fiji 22 and, on the right-hand touchline, Izuchukwu does well to keep it in play by throwing it back in-field. Casey passes to McCarthy, who goes through a gap created by a collision involving referee Hollie Davidson and offloads inside to Aki, who goes in untouched. It looks like Vocevoce ran into the referee more than anything. Prendergast lands the conversion.

04:29 PM GMT

46 mins: Ireland 28 Fiji 3

Ireland win a scrum from the penalty on halfway. No intention of going for the posts, they kick to the Fiji 22.

04:26 PM GMT

43 mins: Ireland 28 Fiji 3

Play is stopped on halfway as Frawley is down after hurting his head. He is treated by the medical staff but he is fine to continue.

04:24 PM GMT

42 mins: Ireland 28 Fiji 3

Ireland have it inside the Fiji 22 and have numbers out to the left. Stockdale gets to within a few metres of the line but Fiji win a penalty at the breakdown at a crucial moment to clear their lines.

04:22 PM GMT

Second half

We are back under way in Dublin.

04:14 PM GMT

This weekend’s Autumn Nations fixtures

Friday:

France 37-23 Argentina

Today:

Ireland 28-3 Fiji HT

Wales vs South Africa 5.40pm

Italy vs New Zealand 8.10pm

Tomorrow:

Scotland vs Australia 1.40pm

England vs Japan 4.10pm

04:07 PM GMT

TRY! Hansen gets Ireland’s fourth

Ireland are in complete control of this match. Casey ships it out from the base of the scrum and Aki offloads behind to Prendergast. He spots Hansen in acres of space out on the right and picks him out with ease with a crossfield kick. Prendergast’s conversion hits the upright but goes through.

That is half-time and Ireland lead 28-3.

04:05 PM GMT

40 mins: Ireland 21 Fiji 3

It is a good competition in the air and it goes to ground with both teams having a hand on it. As Ireland were adjudged to have been going forward, they are given the scrum. They look fortunate to have been given that call. It should probably have been a scrum to Fiji.

04:02 PM GMT

39 mins: Ireland 21 Fiji 3

Fiji’s lineout has been terrible so far, which is putting them under even more pressure.

Play is halted as Casey is down for the hosts. Ireland have actually been given a penalty for a late tackle on Casey which caused the injury. Tagi is the guilty party.

Ireland go to the corner...

03:59 PM GMT

37 mins: Ireland 21 Fiji 3

Frawley is absolutely melted by Mawi and is requiring some medical attention. Those ribs will be hurting. The officials are just about happy with the timing of the tackle, which was deemed not too late. Some deep breaths required for Frawley after that hit!

03:52 PM GMT

TRY! Casey dives over in the corner

Fiji look like they have stopped the maul but Ireland get it out down the blindside. McCarthy breaks off and offloads outside him to Casey, who acrobatically dives over right in the corner. A first international try for the scrum-half. Prendergast lands the touchline conversion and Ireland now lead 21-3.

03:50 PM GMT

29 mins: Ireland 14 Fiji 3

Fiji are back up to 15 men. The Ireland maul gets close to the line but is just short. The whistle goes again and Fiji are penalised for offside. Another talking-to for Fiji and they are on a warning again. Ireland go to the lineout once more.

03:48 PM GMT

28 mins: Ireland 14 Fiji 3

High tackle from Loganimasi on Frawley gives Ireland another chance to kick into the corner...

03:47 PM GMT

27 mins: Ireland 14 Fiji 3

Prendergast offloads at the perfect time to send van der Flier through a gap. Ireland make it to the edge of the Fijian 22 and the ball is knocked on in the tackle by Wainiqolo to give Ireland a scrum.

Ireland have been forced into a change as Osborne has limped off. He is replaced by Frawley.

03:44 PM GMT

25 mins: Ireland 14 Fiji 3

Off a lineout on the left on halfway, Ireland work it well to the right and Stockdale is running towards the Fiji 22. He gets the offload off to Hansen, but the winger cannot hold on and spills it forward.

03:40 PM GMT

23 mins: Ireland 14 Fiji 3

Fiji have been forced into a change at scrum-half as Lomani is replaced by Matawalu.

03:39 PM GMT

22 mins: Ireland 14 Fiji 3

Ireland win a penalty on halfway and Casey takes it quickly. He takes it to the Fiji 22 and then Ireland send it wide to the right. They enter into the Fijian 22 and have numbers wide left. Hansen flings it wide and Izuchukwu thinks he is in for a try on debut but the pass went forward.

03:36 PM GMT

19 mins: Ireland 14 Fiji 3

Fiji are now down to 14 men as Mawi is sent to the bin. Too many penalties and Fiji pay the penalty. The penalty is just inside the 22 but Prendergast bites off more than he can chew. It goes dead and that is a let-off for Fiji.

03:35 PM GMT

PENALTY FIJI!

Muntz lands it from around 40 metres out and Fiji have their first points of the day.

Prendergast is now back on after his yellow card.

03:34 PM GMT

17 mins: Ireland 14 Fiji 0

Ireland are caught offside from a Fiji lineout inside the Ireland half and the visitors have the penalty. Muntz is going to go for goal in an attempt to get their first points of the game...

03:32 PM GMT

TRY! Ireland over again

A neatly planned quick tap sees van der Flier crash over from short range. They switch the play and Doris offloads to van der Flier to score. There was a quick check from the TMO but the try is good. With Prendergast still in the bin, Casey takes the easy conversion.

03:31 PM GMT

15 mins: Ireland 7 Fiji 0

Ireland are just five metres from the Fiji line and now have a penalty as the visitors are penalised for not rolling away. Fiji are given a warning that the next penalty in this area will result in a yellow card. Ireland will take a quick tap.

03:29 PM GMT

14 mins: Ireland 7 Fiji 0

Fiji are penalised as Vocevoce is punished for jumping across at the lineout. Ireland kick into the Fiji 22.

03:29 PM GMT

13 mins: Ireland 7 Fiji 0

We have an outcome of the bunker review. Prendergast’s yellow will remain so as there was not a high degree of danger. I think he is a little fortunate.

03:25 PM GMT

10 mins: Ireland 7 Fiji 0

Have Fiji scored? Muntz gets the crossfield kick right out to the right-hand side and picks out Tagi. He comes up just short but Wainiqolo gets his hands on it. He reaches for the line but he is agonisingly short of the line. It is adjudged to have been lost forward and Ireland are given the scrum five metres from their own line.

03:22 PM GMT

8 mins: Ireland 7 Fiji 0

Prendergast could be in some trouble here. Down the right-hand touchline Salawa kicks ahead and Prendergast tucks his shoulder in, ending up shouldering the Fiji player in the head. He is shown a yellow card and it will now be sent for a bunker review. There is a decent chance of that being upgraded to a red card. There was not any obvious mitigation. Not exactly what Prendergast would have wanted on his first Ireland start. Will it stay a yellow or will that be the last we see of Prendergast today?

03:20 PM GMT

7 mins: Ireland 7 Fiji 0

Not the best 30 seconds for Ireland scrum-half Casey. Twice he is smashed backwards as he attempted to make tackles.

We are going for a TMO review...

03:18 PM GMT

TRY! Captain Doris gets hosts going

Their first entry into the Fiji 22 results in a try. They win the lineout and McCarthy gathers a pass coming round the corner of the maul. He offloads inside to his captain Doris, who cannot be stopped. Prendergast lands the conversion and Ireland lead 7-0.

03:16 PM GMT

4 mins: Ireland 0 Fiji 0

Tuisova just makes contact with Osborne in the air and is punished. He timed his tackle incorrectly, just making contact before Osborne landed. No thought of going for three, they kick to the corner and Prendergast’s effort is terrific, giving the hosts a five-metre lineout...

03:14 PM GMT

2 mins: Ireland 0 Fiji 0

The first penalty of the game is conceded by Fiji as they take a man out who was not involved in the ruck. Tagi is the guilty party. Ireland kick into the Fijian half for their first attacking chance of the game but the lineout is not straight.

03:12 PM GMT

Kick-off

Before we get going, the Fijians perform their Cibi, which is a form of war dance.

We are now under way in Dublin.

03:08 PM GMT

Reminder of the team news

Ireland starting XV: 1 Andrew Porter, 2 Gus McCarthy, 3 Finlay Bealham; 4 Joe McCarthy, 5 Tadhg Beirne; 6 Cormac Izuchukwu, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Caelan Doris (captain); 9 Craig Casey, 10 Sam Prendergast; 11 Jacob Stockdale, 12 Bundee Aki, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 14 Mack Hansen; 15 Jamie Osborne.

Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Tom O’Toole, 18 Tom Clarkson, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Cian Prendergast; 21 Conor Murray, 22 Ciaran Frawley, 23 Stuart McCloskey.

Fiji starting XV: 1 Eroni Mawi, 2 Tevita Ikanivere (co-captain), 3 Luke Tagi; 4 Mesake Vocevoce, 5 Temo Mayanavanua; 6 Meli Derenelagi, 7 Kitione Salawa, 8 Elia Canakaivata; 9 Frank Lomani, 10 Caleb Muntz; 11 Ponepati Loganimasi, 12 Josua Tuisova, 13 Waisea Nayacalevu (co-captain), 14 Jiuta Wainiqolo; 15 Vuate Karawalevu.

Replacements: 16 Sam Matavesi, 17 Haereiti Hetet, 18 Samu Tawake, 19 Setareki Turagacoke, 20 Albert Tuisue; 21 Peni Matawalu, 22 Vilimoni Botitu, 23 Sireli Maqala.

03:03 PM GMT

Anthem time

Both sides emerge from the tunnel at the Aviva Stadium and, before the anthems, Irish President Michael D. Higgins is presented to both teams.

Now it is time for the national anthems.

02:55 PM GMT

The views of Mick Byrne

02:52 PM GMT

The thoughts pre-match of Andy Farrell

02:44 PM GMT

The two head coaches look on

02:39 PM GMT

Weekend’s fixtures

Friday:

France 37-23 Argentina

Today:

Ireland vs Fiji 3.10pm

Wales vs South Africa 5.40pm

Italy vs New Zealand 8.10pm

Tomorrow:

Scotland vs Australia 1.40pm

England vs Japan 4.10pm

You are able to follow all of these games on Telegraph Sport; we have you covered!

02:33 PM GMT

Get your fix

02:28 PM GMT

Telegraph Rugby Podcast

Go beyond the back pages and join the Telegraph’s rugby experts and big name guests as they tackle the game’s most interesting trends, themes and talking points. Our unrivalled rugby coverage, now available on the move! New episodes out Mondays.

02:21 PM GMT

Hosts arrive

02:16 PM GMT

Team news

There are Ireland debuts for Ulster back-row Cormac Izuchukwu and Leinster hooker Gus McCarthy whilst fly-half Sam Prendergast makes his first start. Jacob Stockdale makes his first start for Ireland since their World Cup warm-up match against Samoa in August 2023. Bundee Aki returns to the line-up after being left out of the squad against Argentina but there is still no Tadhg Furlong, who has yet to feature during this month’s action due to injury.

Ireland starting XV: 1 Andrew Porter, 2 Gus McCarthy, 3 Finlay Bealham; 4 Joe McCarthy, 5 Tadhg Beirne; 6 Cormac Izuchukwu, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Caelan Doris (captain); 9 Craig Casey, 10 Sam Prendergast; 11 Jacob Stockdale, 12 Bundee Aki, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 14 Mack Hansen; 15 Jamie Osborne.

Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Tom O’Toole, 18 Tom Clarkson, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Cian Prendergast; 21 Conor Murray, 22 Ciaran Frawley, 23 Stuart McCloskey.

Former Bristol man Semi Radradra is suspended after his red card against Wales. Sale centre Waisea Nayacalevu co-captains the side. Saracens prop Eroni Mawi and Northampton lock Temo Mayanavanua also start.

Fiji starting XV: 1 Eroni Mawi, 2 Tevita Ikanivere (co-captain), 3 Luke Tagi; 4 Mesake Vocevoce, 5 Temo Mayanavanua; 6 Meli Derenelagi, 7 Kitione Salawa, 8 Elia Canakaivata; 9 Frank Lomani, 10 Caleb Muntz; 11 Ponepati Loganimasi, 12 Josua Tuisova, 13 Waisea Nayacalevu (co-captain), 14 Jiuta Wainiqolo; 15 Vuate Karawalevu.

Replacements: 16 Sam Matavesi, 17 Haereiti Hetet, 18 Samu Tawake, 19 Setareki Turagacoke, 20 Albert Tuisue; 21 Peni Matawalu, 22 Vilimoni Botitu, 23 Sireli Maqala.

02:09 PM GMT

Match preview

Ireland continue their Autumn Nations Series campaign against Fiji at the Aviva Stadium. After suffering a defeat to New Zealand two weeks ago, they bounced back with victory over Argentina eight days ago but only just. They edged out Argentina 22-19 and their head coach Andy Farrell wants to see his side be more ruthless.

“I was not puzzled but we were flowing, you know. We came off the top of a line-out way over the gain-line with Jamie Osborne, Caelan [Doris] comes around the corner, we are way over the gain-line again and then we are through and then there is a lack of composure on the back of it. That is the frustrating thing because we did a lot of good but we just did not convert it. Good teams have a say in that but we need to be better in that regard.”

Leinster’s 21-year-old fly-half Sam Prendergast makes his first start in an Ireland jersey today and Farrell believes he is ready to handle Test match rugby.

“I’m confident from what we have seen. We took him on the Emerging [Ireland] and he played in all of those games. The aim of that was to grab hold of that team and make sure that he treated it like it was his own as though he was in charge and he did that in spades. This week we have seen the benefit of that but we need to see it transfer obviously. His character is composed, confident but yet not over-confident. He is assertive in what he wants and he has a nice way about how he goes about his business.”

After today, Ireland finish their Autumn campaign against Australia next Saturday.

Fiji suffered a heavy defeat at the start of the month against Scotland, with many of their best players unavailable due to the game falling outside of the international window, before claiming victory over Wales. They come into today’s game off the back of a 33-19 win against Spain last weekend. The omens do not appear to be on Fiji’s side today; they have never beaten Ireland, losing their last trip to Dublin 35-17.

Kick-off is at 3.10pm UK time.