WITH the nation still staggering beneath a giant chip on its shoulder following the fallout from Wednesday night's World Cup catastrophe, the Irish rugby side's meeting with Fiji at the RDS this evening seems like small potatoes.

However, as Ireland seek to preserve an unbeaten record that stretches back nine matches and 12 months, there is plenty to enthuse over.

A limited amount of tickets are still available for purchase from the IRFU offices at 10/12 Lansdowne Road between 1.0 and 4.0 this afternoon and at the Spar shop on the main street in Donnybrook up until kick-off and, even allowing for a horrendous weather forecast, they should be snapped up as both teams go into this game with a ball-in-hand policy.

Ireland shook off a few cobwebs against the Australians last Sunday and finished the game in style with the most encouraging aspect to their 20-20 draw at Croke Park the tactical switch to a more expansive gameplan -- essential if they are to fulfil their World Cup ambitions in New Zealand in 2011.

The policy shift from the pragmatic approach that landed the Grand Slam last spring may have led directly to the Wallabies' first try after two minutes -- when out-half Ronan O'Gara moved the ball inside the Irish 22 and Drew Mitchell pounced on the pill -- but it also produced some excellent phases of play and was instrumental in Ireland dominating the end game, culminating in Brian O'Driscoll's try.

Focus

However, at yesterday's press conference, when the focus switched from the soccer team's travails back to matters oval, coach Declan Kidney, mindful of the forecast, was careful not to promise too much, aware that Fiji will benefit from another week in camp after a decent showing in their game with Scotland.

"It won't affect the type of rugby we've always tried to play and that's to be smart about the opposition and we're not going to back ourselves into that (heads-up), we're just going to have to play what's in front of us," said Kidney.

"If it's the weather that it is, you just have to play wise to the conditions as well as the opposition. We would have the height of respect for Fiji. They've been to the quarter-final of the World Cup.

"Against Scotland, I read one or two reports about the match and Scotland played quite well last week and Fiji didn't make it easy for them. They have another week under their belts.

"In terms of players getting up for it, all you have to do is ask Shane (Horgan) or Gordon (D'Arcy) or any of the lads coming into it -- that's why we have picked the side we have because of the hunger that's there in them in training and stuff during the week.

"It is vital that we are on the pitch for this and, going on training, the eight changes that we've made, they have shown that they are really biting, champing at the bit for this one.

"I couldn't guarantee anything, I'm not sure what way the game will go -- I know this may sound like coach speak -- but we picked a team that we believe will be hungry, as we believe they (Fiji) will be too with a game under their belt and a week's preparation.

"This is something they don't always have, sometimes they are just thrown together for a match.

Weather permitting, it would have the makings of a good game. If the weather doesn't permit it we'll both just work our way through it."

Fiji assistant coach Mike Brewer took a rather surprising swipe at his former Leinster charge Cian Healy this week, rating today's starting loose-head Tom Court as the superior scrummager.

Given the circumstances of an international debut, two front-row partners chronically short of match-time and the Wallabies finally producing quality props, last Sunday was not a fair reflection of Healy, or Ireland's, scrummaging prowess.

Healy has shown his quality in this areas repeatedly for Leinster -- with no better example that last May's Heineken Cup final when he was up against Leicester's Italian Marco Castrogiovanni, the scourge of the South African and New Zealand scrums this month.

However, Court has been going very well for Ulster this season and Kidney is backing him to make the most of this evening's opportunity.

"Every coach has their take on different positions," said Kidney, responding to the Brewer comment.

"You have to be delighted for the fellahs who get their go. I'm disappointed for Cian, I'm disappointed for Marcus (Horan), but we said we are trying to build a squad and this is Tom's opportunity, it will be his to take or his to leave behind.

"He had a good game against Tonga the previous week (for Ireland 'A') and they had a good front-row, so it's always good when you can give a guy an opportunity because you definitely hand out more bad news than good news in this job.

"Tom's chance is this week, along with Jonathan (Sexton), and I look forward to seeing how they go. How Mike sees it, that's his call."

There is no coincidence in the fact that Kidney has handed Sexton his debut in familiar surroundings, flanked by familiar faces in the backline and, with such support, the 24-year-old can confirm his quality with a controlled display combing pragmatic use of the boot and the flat pass.

Hopefully, the weather will not prevent Keith Earls seeing plenty of ball on the left wing also.

The Limerickman spoke eloquently and openly this week about his previous lack of confidence and how he emerged from a difficult start to his Lions tour a mentally stronger player.

Excellent

His starting role has come about due to Luke Fitzgerald's unfortunate knee injury but, after an excellent display off the bench for Fitzgerald against Australia, it is one he is ready to grab. Denis Leamy is straining at the leash and ready to produce a big performance from openside with a big impact at the breakdown.

Fiji is a nation steeped in rugby tradition -- as evidenced by the fact that the voices of Michael Corcoran and Donal Lenihan on RTE's radio commentary will be relayed back to Fijian living rooms by the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation when it will be 5.15am on Sunday morning.

The half-backs Nicky Little and Moses Raulini are canny and experienced and Seremaia Bai is the best known member of a three-quarter line packed with attacking potential -- the question is whether Ireland will allow the Fijians the quantity and quality of possession to exploit that potential.

The last time these sides met seven years ago, Ireland trounced the Fijians 64-17, with O'Driscoll one of six Irish try-scorers, Kevin Maggs picking up a hat-trick of scores and Geordan Murphy crossing the line twice.

It is unlikely to be so emphatic this time around, but, bolstered by a secure set-piece and the injection of players such as D'Arcy, Leo Cullen and Leamy, it is still safe to expect a comfortable Irish victory with the margin likely to be around the 20-point mark.

Verdict: Ireland

- Hugh Farrelly

Irish Independent