Ireland could lose Grix with leg injury suffered in defeat to Fiji

Winger Akuila Uate, whose last trip to England was with Australia for the 2011 Four Nations Series, scored two tries in Fiji’s 30-14 win over the Irish in the semi-final qualifier on the Gold Coast in 2008 and went one better last night with a hat-trick.

But the foundations for their victory last night were laid by a dominant pack which thrilled the bulk of the sell-out crowd of 8,872 in Rochdale, which boasts the biggest Fijiian expatriate community outside London.

Ireland, the 500-1 tournament outsiders, were in touch at half-time when they trailed 12-4, but they conceded four second-half tries to suffer an emphatic defeat and will now need to beat England in Huddersfield on Saturday to keep alive hopes of reaching the knockout stages.

The Fijians tore into the Irish from the kick-off, led by the Sims brothers, who made up half the starting pack and laid the platform for the quicksilver backs to show their pace and class with two tries in a four-minute spell.

Uate opened the scoring then full-back Kevin Naiqama beat two flat-footed defenders to cross for a second. Centre Wes Naiqama converted his brother’s try.

The introduction of Manly Sea Eagles forward James Hassan for his debut injected some much-needed resolve into Irish ranks.

Indiscipline then crept into the Fijians’ play and Ireland pulled back a try through second-row Tyrone McCarthy on 23 minutes.

Ireland were unable to take advantage of the sin-binning of replacement Eloni Vunakece for persistent infringements and Naiqama stretched Fiji’s lead to 12-4 on the stroke of half-time with a penalty. Tariq Sims then went over for a third try.

Uate completed his hat-trick and Korbin Sims touched down, Naiqama taking his goal tally to four from seven attempts.

Ireland lost Scott Grix with a leg injury that could see him miss out on the clash with England, but they produced a late flurry.

Winger Damien Blanch went over at the corner and Hassan forced his way over for a try to which Pat Richards added the goal.