Match Facts

Ireland have won each of their previous five Test matches against Fiji, scoring 5+ tries in four of those games; Ireland’s last two games against Fiji have been won by fewer than 20 points after each of the first three had come by 35+ point margins.

Ireland have alternated between wins and losses across their last seven Test matches (W4 L3), winning their most recent (22-19 v Argentina) – five of Ireland’s last six Tests have been decided by margins of a converted try or less.

Ireland have won 20 of their last 21 Test matches on home soil (L1), however, their sole loss during that period came earlier this month against Oceanic opposition (13-23 v New Zealand) – Ireland haven’t lost two matches in Dublin in a calendar year since 2013 (L3).

Fiji have won six of their last seven Test matches (L1), including each of their last two despite trailing at half-time on both occasions – overall, the Flying Fijians have won seven Tests in 2024, already their second most in a calendar year, only behind 1999 (8).

Fiji have won three of their last four Test matches against European sides (L1), including each of their last two, however, the Pacific Islanders have never won three in a row against such opposition.

Ireland have conceded both the fewest 22 entries per match (6.8) and the fewest points per entry (1.7) of any men’s Tier 1 Test side in 2024, while Fiji conceded the fewest entries per game (7.3) and the fewest points per entry (1.8) of any team in this year’s Pacific Nations Cup.

Ireland have moved the ball beyond the first receiver on a higher share of their attacking phases than any other side in men’s Tier 1 rugby in 2024 (31%) and opted to attack the openside of the pitch from a higher percentage of their phases than any other team in the last round of Autumn Nations Series fixtures (96%).

Fiji stole 28% of their opponents’ lineouts in this year’s Pacific Nations Cup, the best rate of any team, and stole three in their Test against Spain last week; Ireland won 21% of opposition lineouts during the Six Nations this year, the highest rate of any side, and had the joint best success rate on their own throw (91%, also England).

Should Cian Healy feature in this match, he will earn his 134th cap for Ireland, overtaking Brian O’Driscoll (133) as their most-capped player – among props, only Australia’s James Slipper has earned more caps for a single nation in men’s Test rugby (142).

Fiji’s Meli Derenalagi won seven turnovers in the 2024 Pacific Nations Cup, at least three more than any other player, however, he failed to win a turnover in Fiji’s first two games of this year’s Autumn Nations Series, despite starting both matches.