Clinical Ireland run in eight tries to thump Fiji at the Aviva Stadium

Tries from Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Craig Casey, Mack Hansen (2), Bundee Aki, Gus McCarthy and Ronan Kelleher saw the hosts to a comfortable victory.

Fly-half Sam Prendergast, on his first Test start, hooker McCarthy and centre Aki impressed in a positive run-out for Andy Farrell's youthful and much-changed starting XV.

Kitione Salawa and Setareki Turagacoke were Fiji's try-scorers while Caleb Muntz kicked two conversions and a penalty as they suffered a heavy away defeat.

Ireland enjoyed a dominant opening period as they crossed for four tries that were all converted by Prendergast, who had an eventful first start in the jersey.

The fly-half had a hand in plenty of his team's success in the first half but might count himself rather fortunate to see his yellow card for a shoulder to the head of Fiji flanker Salawa on eight minutes remain that colour. He certainly made the most of his reprieve as he returned in fine fettle as Ireland cruised.

Before his indiscretion Ireland had taken a 7-0 lead on five minutes when a kick to the corner led to a lineout move that saw debutant hooker McCarthy put the ball back inside to Doris set the scoreboard in motion. Prendergast added the extra two before that contentious moment involving Salawa followed soon after.

Fiji came close to responding on 10 minutes through wing Jiuta Wainiqolo but his reach for the try-line out wide was just short and Ireland soon made them pay.

A tap and go five metres out saw a slick interchange from the Ireland forwards before Doris found flanker Van der Flier who crashed over for a converted score.

Fiji did manage to reduce the margin thanks to a long-range penalty from Muntz but a yellow card for Eroni Mawi soon after once again put them on the back foot.

Ireland were beginning to purr and despite being denied a try for Cormac Izuchukwu due to a forward pass, they would cross twice more before the interval thanks to a diving finish on the right wing from Casey after a lineout maul before Prendergast's cross-kick put it on a plate for Hansen in added time to make it 28-3.

It took Ireland seven minutes after the resumption to extend the arrears and for the third time of the game hooker McCarthy was the provider, this time for Aki.

With Farrell's men sitting 35-3 to the good and plenty of time left there was a danger the match could get away from the Fijians but they refused to roll over.

In fact they were next to cross the whitewash when back-row Salawa scrambled his way over on 55 minutes, with Muntz's conversion reducing the gap to 25 points.

The contest was becoming increasingly open as a try from the back of a driving maul from hooker McCarthy was soon cancelled out by Turagacoke's score.

But one always felt that Ireland were still very much on top and they were helped by Turagacoke's yellow card before Casey put Hansen over for his second try.

There was still plenty of time for one final crossing and it came from replacement hooker Kelleher as Ireland put the seal on an emphatic victory on home soil.

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