Ireland have secured a thumping 22-57 win over Japan in the first Test in Shizuoka. Catch up on all the action as it happened as well as clips of the scores, reaction and analysis.
What a night in Japan for Irish rugby. Thank you for joining our coverage today. Stay tuned for a full report but make sure you scroll down for full analysis of how Ireland dismantled their hosts.
Then there was the last play of the game, Emma Hooban crashing through a tired Japan defence after a series of pick and goes from her fellow forwards. Four tries on the day from the Irish hookers!
Speaking of speed, Molly Scuffil-McCabe showed off hers with this score from distance. It is a bit fortunate, Edel McMahon running her line too early drew the Japanese defence away from the ruck but Scuffil-McCabe spotted that well to speed off through the gap.
Sam Monaghan was immense in contact both with the ball and in defence, so it was fitting that a defensive contribution of another kind led to a score. Here she uses every inch of her height to block an attempted clearance. Replacement prop Chloe Pearse shows good speed to get to the ball first, controlling it deftly with the boot before dotting down for the score.
Then there was Méabh Deely’s debut score. Enya Breen does through a nice inside dummy to draw in an extra defender but Matsuda, Japan’s number 13, gets caught far too narrow in the line. She affords Deely far too much space and while it is an excellent pass and line to get on the outside of her, it is poor defence to allow that space. Deely showed a clean pair of heels from there to score in the corner.
Right then, let’s run through the second half scores and there were plenty of them. The first two came from rolling mauls, Ireland were simply unstoppable in that area as Neve Jones notched a hat-trick via the set-piece.
Full-time: Japan 22 Ireland 57
What a result that is for Ireland. A first summer tour match leads to a thumping first Test win over a side that is heading to the World Cup. It does put Ireland’s failure to qualify for that tournament into perspective but in terms of what the result means going forward, Greg McWilliams has to be delighted with the result given six new caps were handed out today.
80 mins: O’Brien drops over the extras to bring this one to a close!
Japan 22 Ireland 57
79 mins: Ireland finish with a flourish! The forwards hammer away off the line at the scrum and Dooban eventually crashes over. That’s a fourth try for Irish hookers today!
Japan 22 Ireland 55
78 mins: Ireland get a free-kick at the scrum for an early shove. They opt for another set-piece under the posts.
Japan 22 Ireland 50
77 mins: Close! Breen comes in on a hard angle off nine, spins out of one tackle and reaches for the line but loses it before the grounding. Japan survive.
Japan 22 Ireland 50
76 mins: Behan is nearly over after a ridiculous gather on the bounce from an O’Brien cross-kick. It’s an incredible, try-saving tackle from Matsuda to hold her from crossing in the corner but Ireland do retain possession inside the 22.
Japan 22 Ireland 50
75 mins: Japan win the scrum against the head but a loose pass prevents them taking advantage of an overlap out wide. Hosokawa runs a good short line to break the gain line but then loses it in contact. Ireland attack inside the Japan half.
Japan 22 Ireland 50
Sam Monaghan limps off with Ireland having already used all their subs. She’s been immense today but they will have to now play with 14.
74 mins: Not for the first time today, Japan run laterally in midfield and the pressure put on by Ireland leads to a handling error.
Japan 22 Ireland 50
72 mins: TRY SCUFFIL-MCCABE! An element of fortune as Edel McMahon ran her line too early, drawing the Japan fringe defence away from the ruck. That allowed Scuffil-McCabe to pick and go through the gap, showing a clean pair of heels to sprint away under the posts. O’Brien adds the easy extras.
Japan 22 Ireland 50
69 mins: TRY IRELAND! This time the charge-down leads to the score for Ireland. Sam Monaghan is the one to block the kick before Chloe Pearse wins the race to the bouncing ball, controlling it nicely with the boot before falling on it over the line. O’Brien is wide with the extras.
Japan 22 Ireland 43
68 mins: Ireland catch Japan in possession close to their own line but McMahon is pinged for leaving the scrum too early before the ball was out. Japan clear with the penalty.
Japan 22 Ireland 38
67 mins: This time Japan do a good job of sacking the Irish maul. Wall gets an unsympathetic pass off the base of the following ruck and spills while swarmed by the fringe defence.
Japan 22 Ireland 38
66 mins: It’s not often you see Dorothy Wall knocked back but that she is as Hosokawa puts in a good shot. Ireland lose possession but earn a scrum just outside the 22 after a spill from replacement scrum-half Abe.
Japan 22 Ireland 38
65 mins: Djougang comes flying out of the line to block Otsuka’s attempted clearance, but she can’t get to the ball first behind the try line. Japan have a goal-line drop.
Japan 22 Ireland 38
64 mins: Otsuka converts the score but only after a lengthy delay for Cronin and Fryday to receive treatment after a clash of heads. Cronin is off to get her blood cleaned up.
Japan 22 Ireland 38
63 mins: TRY JAPAN! It’s much better work from the hosts in attack. Quick ruck ball off the lineout allows them to progress into the 22 before Ireland fail to roll away. The penalty is taken quickly and Ireland are caught off guard as Lavemai barges her way over under the sticks.
Japan 20 Ireland 38
62 mins: Japan look devoid of attacking ideas at the minute. Ireland turn them over far too easily in their own half before using the boot of Breen to clear.
Japan 15 Ireland 38
57 mins: Ireland are over again! Deely is over for a debut try! Breen delays the pass beautifully to allow a hole to open up in midfield before sending Deely through the gap. It’s far too easy really, Japan’s midfield defence on first phase has been circumspect today but it’s still a brilliant angle and turn of pace to sprint over in the corner. O’Brien converts well.
Japan 15 Ireland 38
53 mins: Neve Jones has a hat-trick! That’s the third time she’s ended up on the end of a rolling maul over the line. O’Brien converts.
Japan 15 Ireland 31
52 mins: Penalty Ireland! The Japan scrum gets a good shove on but slips on the loosehead side. The officials determine it’s Japan at fault and O’Brien goes to the corner.
Japan 15 Ireland 24
50 mins: Another breakdown penalty lets O’Brien kick the ball into the 22. The water break will take place before the lineout.
Japan 15 Ireland 24
51 mins: That’s poor from Djougang. She carries upright into contact and loses the ball to easily from the rip by outhalf Otsuka.
Japan 15 Ireland 24
48 mins: Decent phaseplay from Ireland as Monaghan frees the arms to offload to Djougang in space. Japan win a penalty at the next breakdown and go quickly to break up to halfway. The attack ends with a knock-on in contact.
Japan 15 Ireland 24
45 mins: Japan strike back at the scrum! They must have made a tweak at half-time because this time they obliterate the Irish set-piece and earn the penalty.
Japan 15 Ireland 24
41 mins: Back underway at Shizuoka and Neve Jones has a double! Another powerful rolling maul from Ireland and they extend their lead almost immediately in the second half. O’Brien pushes the conversion out to the left.
Japan 15 Ireland 24
The third score was a simple missed tackle. O’Brien ships the ball onto Dalton who, to be fair, did cut a good out to in line, running hard inside but it was still a dreadful tackle attempt.
This was a really well constructed try to send over Aoife Doyle in the corner. Breen spotted Japan overcommitting out wide to burst through a hole before offloading to Deely. She looked to have left it too late to find Doyle but her offload in turn was stunning to put Doyle over.
This was how Ireland started things off. Pure power at a well set maul was too good for the Japanese. Japan didn’t even compete at the maul but still were poorly set up to defend the set-piece as Ireland rolled over from 15m out.
Half-time: Japan 15 Ireland 19
Ireland have worked their way back into this one very nicely. After struggling against Japan’s fringe carrying and ability to break from deep, they have taken over the game via a strong scrum and a series of Japanese lapses in discipline. One strong rolling maul, a fantastic line break plus a missed Japan tackle and they have the lead.
40 mins: Dalton is over just before the break! A missed tackle allows Ireland to take the lead before the break. A short pop from O’Brien to her outside centre leads to a poor tackle attempt that gives Ireland a crucial score with the clock in the red. O’Brien converts.
Japan 15 Ireland 19
39 mins: Scrappy enough as both sides struggle to hold onto the ball. Japan do infringe on the deck as O’Brien kicks into the 22.
Japan 15 Ireland 12
37 mins: Sam Monaghan has been good in the carry and nearly frees her arms for a line break offload. O’Brien eventually clears but gives away a penalty on the chase for a late hit.
Japan 15 Ireland 12
34 mins: A crooked throw at the lineout lets Ireland off the hook inside their own 22.
Japan 15 Ireland 12
34 mins: Ireland make a mess of the Japan short lineout but go off their feet at the following breakdown. Otsuka kicks the penalty into the 22.
Japan 15 Ireland 12
32 mins: Brilliant from Japan. One ball out the back off the set piece draws up the Ireland backfield and Otsuka pins the ball into touch inside the 22. Ireland do work the exit well as O’Brien clears.
Japan 15 Ireland 12
30 mins: Interesting one as O’Connor lines up a long range penalty from close to halfway. It never had the legs and is out to the right.
Japan 15 Ireland 12
28 mins: Scrappy ball for Japan as Tsukui’s ball off the scrum sails over Otsuka’s head. The outhalf recovers to clear and in the end it’s a pretty good touchfinder considering the pressure she was under.
Japan 15 Ireland 12
27 mins: A mistake from Ireland as Dalton and O’Brien get their wires crossed in midfield as the short pop between them hits the deck. Japan get a relieving scrum.
Japan 15 Ireland 12
26 mins: An error from Japan. Otsuka takes a kick in behind her posts and instead of dotting down she attempts to clear. It’s a poor kick that finds touch still inside the 22. Good attacking platform for Ireland.
Japan 15 Ireland 12
23 mins: TRY AOIFE DOYLE! What a score that is. It all starts with a scrum on the 10m line where Ireland get a big shove on. Breen breaks through a soft line up the middle before offloading to Deely. She looks to have left it too late to give the scoring pass to Doyle on the outside. It’s a brilliant offload and catch while moving at full pelt as Doyle goes over in the corner. O’Brien strikes the conversion well put pushes it out to the right.
Japan 15 Ireland 12
20 mins: Penalty Ireland as Japan stray offside around the fringes. Japan’s discipline has really let them down in the last few minutes and it’s given Ireland a platform in the game. O’Brien finds touch on the Japan 10m line.
Japan 15 Ireland 7
17 mins: TRY IRELAND! Neve Jones is over after a strong rolling maul. Ireland needed that as O’Brien slots the extras. Time for a water break.
Japan 15 Ireland 7
11 mins: Problems continue for Ireland. Japan’s forward carriers are dominant around the fringes and they have extended their lead with a penalty from short range.
Japan 15 Ireland 0
5 mins: Komachi Imakugi crosses for Japan’s second try! There’s their trademark flair. It’s a break from halfway which opens the initial gap and they keep the ball alive brilliantly to send their wing over. Conversion missed.
Japan 12 Ireland 0
3 mins: Japan are over! Not a good start for Ireland. Edel McMahon is off for an early blood injury before the hosts’ attack builds nicely, phase after phase to power their way over.
Japan 7 Ireland 0
1 mins: They are underway in Shizuoka! Japan launch it long as Ireland gather.
Japan 0 Ireland 0
Remember of course that these two sides met in November, Ireland running out 15-12 winners at the RDS. A lot has changed, though, for this Irish side since then. Greg McWilliams has since taken over as head coach while Ciara Griffin has since retired, Nichola Fryday taking up the mantle as captain amongst countless other changes.
It’s a brand new halfback pairing with Dannah O’Brien linking up with Ailsa Hughes. Among the other new caps is Natasja Behan, the Blackrock wing with a strong GAA background who lines up in the back three alongside Aoife Doyle and Méabh Deely, another debutant in an inexperienced backfield.
Captain Nichola Fryday was speaking to the media in the build-up to today. She says that Ireland will not be underestimating their opponent despite an Ireland victory over them in the RDS last November. Japan are also ranked six places below Ireland in the world rankings though if there is one thing we’ve learned about those in recent years it is to take them with a pinch of salt.
Here is a full match preview.
[ Japan v Ireland preview: Captain Nichola Fryday not underestimating challengeOpens in new window ]
Right then, back onto the action today. There are six new caps in today’s 23 for Ireland. Méabh Deely, Natasja Behan, Aoife Dalton and Dannah O’Brien will be making their debuts from the word go today, with Taryn Schultzer and Leah Tarpey looking to pick up their first caps off the bench. Probably most importantly of all, 18-year-old Dannah O’Brien is picked to start at 10 in a bid to finally find a long-term solution at the position.
IRELAND: M Deely; N Behan, A Dalton, E Breen, A Doyle; D O’Brien, A Hughes; L Djougang, N Jones, K O’Dwyer; N Fryday, S Monaghan; D Wall, E McMahon, H O’Connor.
Replacements: E Hooban, C Pearse, C Haney, T Schultzer, G Moore, N Cronin, L Tarpey, M Scuffil-McCabe.
JAPAN: R Anoku; R Kurogi, R Matsuda, S Nakayama, K Imakugi; A Otsuka, M Tsukui; S Minami, N Nagata, Y Sadaka; K Tamai, M Takano; M Suzuki, K Hosokawa, A Nagai.
Replacements: H Komaki, K Taniguchi, M Lavemai, M Kawamura, S Saito, M Abe, M Yamamoto, S Korai.
This is a historic first for Ireland, playing away to Japan. It’s also the next step in this team’s development as Greg McWilliams continues to blood plenty of new talent. But before we get onto that, let’s look back at some of the old guard. Sene Naoupu announced her retirement from international rugby during the week, here’s an interview she did looking back on her career.
