By the end of this rip-roaring contest, Ireland were left breathing a collective sigh of relief that they hadn’t fallen to a second consecutive defeat to a superb Japanese team.
hat’s when the Irish players actually managed to get their breath back, because for much of the game they were brought to some dark places as the pace and power of Japan caused them all sorts of problems.
Just as it was at the World Cup two years ago, Japan’s willingness to play from deep was a joy to watch, but unlike that infamous day in Shizuoka, Ireland dug deep and showed good character to ensure there was no slip-up this time around.
Ireland had to stay patient and while their performance was far from perfect, they stuck to the task and eventually broke Japan’s stubborn resilience. It’s worth remembering, this is a Japan side that has played two matches (one Test) since October 2019. Had they been able to get more game-time, it could have been a very different result in front of 3,000 returning supporters at the Aviva Stadium.
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Those in attendance were treated to an enthralling spectacle, in which Ireland scored five tries to Japan’s four. There is plenty for Andy Farrell to ponder ahead of the visit of USA, while he also has some injury headaches to contend with, as Jordan Larmour (groin) and Chris Farrell (head) were forced off.
Ireland were understandably rusty, but certain errors, particularly around the lineout and restarts, will frustrate the coaching staff.
Caelan Doris was central to everything good about the home side. Josh van der Flier put in a huge shift, while Joey Carbery got through his first international start in almost two years. Gavin Coombes made his debut off the bench and although the result was in the balance until late on, the Munster man and his provincial team-mate Craig Casey will be disappointed they didn’t get more game-time.
Farrell is set to make wholesale changes next weekend, but for now, he will reflect on having dodged another Japanese bullet. Ireland were slow to get going and after coughing up a couple of soft early penalties, the classy Yu Tamura opened the scoring for the visitors with a second-minute kick.
That sparked Ireland into life as they hit back. Doris’ superb footwork created the opening and having repeatedly carried hard at the Japanese wall, the gap eventually opened and Chris Farrell didn’t need a second invitation to score from close range. Carbery’s conversion put Ireland 7-3 in front, but a very sloppy error from the restart saw Ireland concede another soft penalty. This time Japan went to the corner and they were rewarded when captain Michael Leitch was on the end of a powerful rolling maul.
Tamura added the extras to put his side back in front before Japan had what would have been a cracking try correctly chalked off for a forward pass. Ireland’s error count was continuing to rise, but they did score an excellent try of their own. Carbery sparked the move with a clever dink over the top, and with Doris and Keenan involved, it finished with Peter O’Mahony offloading brilliantly for Stuart McCloskey to dot down in the corner.
But back came Japan and there was no denying Timothy Lafaele four minutes before the break after a beautiful crossfield kick from Tamura caused havoc in the Irish defence. Tamura’s conversion looked to have put Japan 17-12 in front at the break, only for Ireland to strike late through Finlay Bealham, for his first international try. Carbery added the extras for a 19-17 lead after a pulsating half.
Ireland lost Chris Farrell to a head injury shortly after the restart and with a rejigged backline, Japan took full advantage, Tamura again the creator, as Siosaia Fifita’s converted try saw Japan retake the lead.
In keeping with the thrilling topsy-turvy nature of the encounter, Ireland hit back. Jamison Gibson-Park was central to his side’s fourth try, Van der Flier getting it, with Carbery again converting.
Ireland now led 26-24 and that advantage was soon extended when Gibson-Park put Jacob Stockdale over in the corner for his 19th international try, with Carbery’s conversion on target.
Just as it looked like the hosts might pull away, Japan struck for another sensational try. This time scrum-half Naoto Saito finished off a free-flowing counter-attack.
Tamura’s extras made it a
two-point game, but Carbery sealed the victory for Ireland with a couple of late penalties.
Scorers – Ireland: Farrell, McCloskey, Bealham, Van der Flier, Stockdale try each; Carbery 4 cons, 2 pens. Japan: Leitch, Lafaele, Fifita, Saito try each; Tamura 4 cons, 1 pen.
Ireland: H Keenan; J Larmour (S Daly 30), C Farrell (B Burns 43), S McCloskey, J Stockdale; J Carbery, J Gibson-Park (C Casey 78); D Kilcoyne (E Byrne 59), R Kelleher (R Herring 70), F Bealham (John Ryan 59); U Dillane (R Baird, 60), James Ryan (capt); P O’Mahony (G Coombes 70), J van der Flier, C Doris.
Japan: K Matsushima (S Gates 51); S Masirewa, T Lafaele, R Nakamura, S Fifita; Y Tamura (R Matsuda 67), N Saito (K Shigeno 67); K Inagaki (C Millar 51), A Sakate (K Horikoshi, 62), J Koo (A A Valu 51); W van der Walt (J Cornelsen 51), J Moore; M Leitch (capt), P Labuschagne, T Tatafu (A Mafi 53).
Referee: K Dickson (England).