Ireland extended their winning streak at home to 11 games against an indisciplined Fiji but there were few other positives for Andy Farrell to take from an error-strewn contest.
Two tries for Nick Timoney off driving mauls and another from his Ulster team-mate Robert Baloucoune saw Ireland come from behind to lead 21-10 at the end of a forgettable first half, while Mack Hansen and Cian Healy crossed in the final quarter after Fiji had been permanently reduced to 14 men.
It was an inaccurate and at times uninspiring performance from Ireland, who coughed up cheap penalties early on and struggled off restarts. However, those inaccuracies were never going to prove costly against an opponent who played over half the match with a player less.
Fiji's discipline cost them dear against Scotland last weekend and it was a similar story here. Just like at Murrayfield they collected three cards, but this time one of them was red after Albert Tuisue was dismissed for a high tackle on Joey Carbery that led to the out-half being replaced.
Despite this they still scored the two best tries of the game, both sparked from inside their own half as Kalaveti Ravouvou gave them an early lead and Simione Kuruvoli scored a superb consolation with 14 minutes remaining.
Ireland even played against 13 men at one stage and eventually capitalised through Hansen’s second try in eight days, but there was little for the Aviva Stadium crowd to get excited about, with a Mexican wave receiving the biggest cheer of a forgettable afternoon.
Andy Farrell made nine changes to his starting line-up and that lack of continuity contributed to a disjointed start which was punished by Fiji, who struck on four minutes with a breathtaking try that began inside their own half.
Setareki Tuicuvu released Vinaya Habosi down the left wing and he brushed off Jamison Gibson-Park before passing back inside to send Kalaveti Ravouvou racing behind the posts.
Things got worse for Ireland when Robbie Henshaw limped off with what appeared to be a reoccurrence of his hamstring injury, Garry Ringrose replacing him in the midfield.
Ireland's discipline was also becoming an issue, two successive penalties piggybacking Fiji from their own 22 to halfway, and the visitors came close to scoring a second try when the ball squirted out of a loose Irish ruck and Tuicuvu’s offload again sent Habosi clear. Ringrose got back to snuff out the threat on this occasion.
The area where Ireland were having the most joy was in the set-piece and they used that dominance to turn the game around.
They were level on 15 minutes when Timoney broke off a maul and a big carry by Kieran Treadwell took Ireland underneath the posts, where soft hands from Tadhg Beirne put Timoney over.
Treadwell had a try chalked off by the TMO, who correctly ruled he was held up by Levani Botia, but Ireland were not to be denied and they crossed within one minute of Manasa Saulo's sin-binning for repeated cynicism by Fiji when defending mauls.
Rob Herring found Tadhg Beirne at the lineout and Ireland’s backs joined in a powerful drive that resulted in Timoney crossing once again.
Another poor restart by Ireland saw Treadwell caught offside, which allowed Tela to cut the gap to 14-10, but Fiji were hit for a third try on 25 minutes.
Timoney and Caelan Doris combined to force a turnover inside the Fiji half and Jimmy O'Brien cut through a gap to get to within one metre of the line. With a scrambling Fijiian defence narrowed, Gibson-Park floated a pass out wide to the unmarked Baloucoune for a simple score. Carbery nailed the touchline conversion.
Fiji's discipline was non-existent by this stage and Eroni Mawi somehow remained on the pitch despite illegally sacking three driving mauls.
However, Ireland failed to add to their tally before half-time. Jack Conan was tackled into touch before he could ground the ball and although a superb counter-ruck by Beirne sparked an Ireland breakaway in the final minute, they were turned over on the Fiji line as a low-key first half reached its conclusion.
Tuisue saw red within six minutes of the restart for a shoulder to the head of Carbery, which ended the out-half's afternoon, and Fiji were down to 13 soon after when Api Ratuniyarawa was sin-binned for another maul penalty.
Jack Crowley and Cian Prendergast came on for their debuts but Ireland struggled to make their numerical advantage count as errors and inaccuracy dogged their play.
They did score a fourth try on the hour mark when Ireland won a scrum against the head and Craig Casey put Hansen over, but Fiji hit back with another brilliant try from their own, replacement scrum-half Simione Kuruvoli the scorer.
Healy barged over from close range with six minutes remaining to give the scoreboard a better look but there is plenty of room for improvement ahead of next weekend’s final outing of 2022 against Australia.
Ireland: Jimmy O'Brien; Robert Baloucoune, Robbie Henshaw, Stuart McCloskey, Mack Hansen; Joey Carbery, Jamison Gibson-Park; Jeremy Loughman, Rob Herring, Tadhg Furlong (capt); Kieran Treadwell, Tadhg Beirne; Caelan Doris, Nick Timoney, Jack Conan.
Replacements: Garry Ringrose for Henshaw (5), Jack Crowley for Carbery (46), Craig Casey for Gibson-Park (49), Cian Prendergast for Treadwell (49), Tom O'Toole for Furlong (49), Max Deegan for Doris (59), Cian Healy for Loughman (62),
Fiji: Setareki Tuicuvu; Jiuta Wainiqolo, Waisea Nayacalevu, Kalaveti Ravouvou, Vinaya Habosi; Teti Tela, Frank Lomani; Eroni Mawi, Sam Matavesi, Manasa Saulo, Isoa Nasilasila, Ratu Leone Rotuisolia, Albert Tuisue, Levani Botia, Viliame Mata.
Replacements: Api Ratuniyarawa for Rotuisolia (24), Ben Volavola for Tela (43), Simione Kuruvoli for Lomani (47), John Dyer for Botia (54), Adrea Cocagi for Ravouvou (58), Livai Natave for Mawi (58), Lee-Roy Atalifo for Saulto (63).
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR)
