Ireland centre Stuart McCloskey says Andy Farrell's side will try "not to get into too much of an arm wrestle" with Fiji in the Nations Championship in Dublin.

Ireland have won three of their four fixtures to date, including a 42-12 victory over Argentina at the Aviva Stadium on Friday, to sit third in the northern hemisphere table of the competition.

Fiji have yet to pick up a point from four outings, losing 54-17 to France in Paris last weekend, but Ulster back McCloskey is expecting a physical contest against Jake White's side.

"When they get it right they can be incredibly physical, they can get the ball moving, depends how the weather is, hopefully there's a bit of rain so they don't offload as much," said McCloskey.

"We'll go after them in different ways and will hopefully be a bit more structured than they are.

"It's good once or twice a year to have a game this physical. Hopefully we won't get too much into an arm wrestle with them, we'll try to let our shape do the work, give us one-on-ones instead of running into brick walls."

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Ireland head coach Andy Farrell said James McNabney's route to the Ireland set-up is a "phenomenal story" after the Ulster back row was named among the replacements for the Nations Championship match against Fiji.

The 23-year-old has recently recovered from an anterior cruciate ligament injury which sidelined him for last season and has started just one game for Ulster since his return this campaign.

The back row represented Northern Ireland and Great Britain's equestrian teams until he was 16 before switching his focus to rugby.

He has since been part of the Ireland team who became Grand Slam winners at the Under-20 Six Nations in 2022 and 2023.

"I think it's a brilliant story because it's not a conventional way of coming through from a rugby point of view," Farrell said.

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Before Ireland's Nations Championship game with Argentina, head coach Andy Farrell had been honest about where his side are less than a year out from the World Cup.

He admitted his team must improve if they are to challenge in Australia next year - a stark contrast to four years ago when they were riding the crest of a wave before they fell short in the quarter-finals.

Despite Mateo Carreras' early try, Ireland had far too much for Los Pumas in Dublin as they ran out 42-12 winners under the Friday night lights.

But despite scoring six tries and winning by a 30-point margin, Farrell was left wanting more.

"The scoreline is a good one because not many teams do that to Argentina, they are a dangerous side," Farrell said.

"I thought there was outstanding stuff and some clinical stuff, but I think the story of the game is we missed a chance to be ruthless.

"Having said that, the opportunities we had in the right end of the field showed the dominance in field position and territory."

Hugo Keenan scored a hat-trick of tries as Ireland opened the home leg of the Nations Championship with a commanding bonus-point win over Argentina in Dublin eight days ago.

In addition to Keenan, captain Dan Sheehan, Sam Prendergast and Ronan Kelleher crossed as Andy Farrell's side punished a messy and ill-disciplined Pumas outfit, who scored twice through wing Mateo Carreras.

On a deeply disappointing night for Argentina, who are still without an away win over Ireland after 12 attempts, Justo Piccardo and Ephraim Elias were sin-binned while they lost captain Julian Montoya to a failed head injury assessment before half-time.

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Ireland: Mack Hansen; Rob Baloucoune, Jamie Osborne, Bundee Aki, Tommy O'Brien; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong, James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne (capt), Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Nick Timoney.

Replacements: Tom Stewart, Tom O'Toole, Sam Illo, Darragh Murray, James McNabney, Craig Casey, Ciaran Frawley, Stuart McCloskey.

Fiji: Ponipate Loganimasi; Selestino Ravutaumada, Setareki Bituniyata, Josua Tuisova, Jiuta Wainiqolo; Ben Volavola, Frank Lomani; Peni Ravai, Tevita Ikanivere, Luke Tagi, Joseva Tamani, Isoa Nasilasila, Mesake Vocevoce, Lekima Tagitagivalu, Peceli Yato (capt).

Replacements: Zuriel Togiatama, Vilikesa Nairau, Inoke Ravuiwasa, Kitione Salawa, Elia Canakaivata, Terio Tamani, Caleb Muntz, Iosefo Masi.

Ulster's James McNabney is poised to make his Ireland debut off the bench as head coach Andy Farrell makes seven changes for Saturday's Nations Championship match against Fiji.

In addition to a raft of personnel changes, Farrell has made two key positional switches with Nick Timoney and Mack Hansen moving to number eight and full-back.

Timoney's switch comes amid an injury crisis at number eight, with Caelan Doris, Jack Conan and Sean Jansen all ruled out through injury, while Hansen replaces Hugo Keenan, who drops out of the squad after scoring a hat-trick of tries in the 42-12 win over Argentina.

Jamie Osborne, Bundee Aki, Tommy O'Brien and Jamison Gibson-Park are also drafted into the backline, with Rob Baloucoune and Sam Prendergast retained.

In the pack, Ronan Kelleher starts at hooker with Dan Sheehan ruled out because of concussion, while James Ryan partners stand-in captain Tadhg Beirne in the second row as Joe McCarthy drops out.

With Timoney switching to number eight, former World Rugby player of the year Josh van der Flier is recalled at open-side flanker.

Fiji, who have never beaten Ireland, lost 54-17 to France last week and sit bottom of the southern hemisphere table having failed to win a point.

Head coach Jake White has retained only six starters from the defeat in Lyon, with 31-year-old centre Setareki Bituniyata handed a debut.

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Welcome to our live coverage of this evening's clash between Ireland and Fiji at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin.

Follow us for updates of every score and all the action as Ireland seek to make it a perfect two-from-two after last weekend's victory over Argentina.

Fiji will be hoping for a better outing than the one we witnessed last week when they lost to France.

So settle down and stay tuned for what is sure to be a memorable encounter.

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