RUGBY: A Sunday of soothing affirmation at Lansdowne Road. After last week's magnificent Australian story, the visit of Fiji could have been a troublesome second act.

Ireland has a history of following spectacular highs with unaccountable lows. Not in this exact new era, however.

After a 64-17 victory - a total brimming with a platter of juicy Irish tries - Eddie O'Sullivan stamped a cautious verdict of happiness at the manner of this fifth consecutive Irish victory. It leaves the perfect mis en scène for next week's November finale against the fired-up Argentinians. On Ireland's celebrated rugby field at least, the good times continue.

"Obviously, Irish rugby is in good health," noted Greg Smith, Fiji's dejected captain as dusk fell around Lansdowne Road. "Unfortunately, for the first 40 minutes, we just stood around and watched."

That was pretty much the general attitude of a respectably big crowd who turned up in anticipation of an afternoon of high adventure and free-spirited running.

From Geordan Murphy's fourth-minute try - a waltz over the line following a clever dash and sleight of hand from Shane Horgan - it promised to be another long day for the visitors from the faraway islands.

Still scalded from their experience across in Cardiff, the Fijians were tentative and seemed to have lost their famously wicked imagination and joyous approach to the game.

It was the Irish who did most of the back-row dancing, with Kevin Maggs, so often the battering ram, skipping over for a hat-trick of tries, while Murphy, who enjoyed a distinguished if hardly exacting afternoon at full back, finished with two.

And in the 30th minute the home fans witnessed the latest chapter in The Story.

Exploding on to a neat, snapped-pass from David Humphries, Irish captain, centre and general super-hero Brian O'Driscoll zoomed past Vili Satala for his 17th international try.

The score equalled the great Brendan Mullin's record, set over an 11-year career. Given O'Driscoll's international future stands before him with vast and trembling promise, he seems certain to obliterate the record he now shares.

The speed with which he has caught up with Mullin probably best illustrates the different galaxy on which Irish rugby now operates. Mullin may have scored 17 Irish tries in his sporting lifetime, but he probably received little more than 17 passes. He shone during a lonely period for green-shirted three-quarters.

O'Driscoll is the star of a talented new chorus of a back line accustomed to fast and plentiful possession.

"Certainly I'm happy enough," smiled O'Driscoll afterwards. "To be equal with as good a player as Brendan Mullin is a great honour and if someday it happens that I beat the record, it'll be fantastic. But I am happy to see the likes of Kevin and Geordan keep scoring the way they did out there."

While the backs, including the re-instated Justin Bishop, went score-seeking with glee, there were other sights to whet O'Sullivan's appetite for the more serious days ahead.

Big Malcolm O'Kelly was central to one of the moves of the match when he thundered into the heart of the Fijian defence and, with a gorgeous one-handed flick, initiated another flowing back-row move which Maggs finished just before half-time to leave the score at 39-3.

Leo Cullen, employed as a decoy on so many set-pieces, was able and industrious, and Kieron Dawson celebrated a high-octane day with a rampaging try in the 50th minute.

The fare was more even at that stage, with the Fijians at last throwing their ill-advised caution to what wind there was. Still, when they ran it appeared to be out of obligation to their reputation more than for the sheer giddy fun of it.

Waisele Serevi, their feted sevens genius, atoned for fluffing a catch for a certain try by delightfully spiriting himself through a heavy wall of Irish defence and setting up the grateful Alifereti Doviverata for a stroll to the try-line shortly after half-time.

But that was the high point of Fiji's experience and it was clear that the beloved vaudeville entertainers of the world game are ailing.

"It's hugely disappointing," admitted coach Mac McCallion. "The resources the Northern Hemisphere sides have is quite unbelievable to what we have got. That is not to make excuses, but if we had had a fraction of those, we would be happy."

Resources are not Eddie O'Sullivan's problem right now. With Mr Wood on the mend and yesterday's new contenders handsomely meeting requirements, all looks well.

Notorious as a perfectionist as he is, even O'Sullivan was reluctant to probe for the weak chinks in this latest win. At a push, he identified the concession of two tries.

"You always want to keep a clean sheet. And we will look at it. But that is being finicky."

And why delve for minor troubles in days of high optimism? No storm clouds on the horizon as the good ship sails towards a precious sixth win. So the Pumas stand between Ireland and a perfect conclusion to this early winter feel-good tale.