Japan square the Test series with a deserved victory over Ireland in Tokyo

Japan 29 Ireland 10

Japan were worthy winners, their victory ensuring that the two Test series finished with one victory apiece. The home side scored five tries to two, played the more cohesive rugby, particularly in terms of pace and creativity in attack.

Ireland lacked the energy, accuracy and intensity that allowed them to dominate the first Test, making too many basic mistakes while a lack of discipline was also a large issue. There is no doubt that the heat, humidity, exertions of the first Test and injuries to a couple of key players had an adverse effect on the Irish performance.

Ireland head coach Greg McWilliams will be disappointed with the performance and the result but when reflecting on the tour will be reasonably satisfied. Travelling without a sizeable contingent of first choice players, he gave nine players an Irish debut and the squad an insight into the daily regimen and demands of being full-time professionals.

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There were some brave performances in adversity, Hannah O’Connor Nichola Fryday, Edel McMahon and Ailsa Hughes, standout contributors.

[ Ireland overturn first half deficit to run rampant in historic Japan win ]

Ireland played second fiddle in terms of territory and possession for most of a first half that was riddled with errors and indiscipline from both sides in a contest that lacked quality. The two teams turned over possession with alarming regularity and many of the breakdowns culminated in a penalty offence with Ireland the more culpable in that respect.

The fact that both teams struggled to secure consistent lineout possession added to the fractured nature of the game from an attacking perspective. Ireland got off to the perfect start with a first international try for right wing Natasja Behan, the genesis of which was a superb 50/22 kick from outhalf Dannah O’Brien.

From the ensuing lineout, Nichola Fryday claimed possession, Ireland shaped to set up a driving maul, but scrumhalf Ailsa Hughes appreciated that Japan were light on defenders on the short side. Her break and pass allowed Behan to power over in the corner.

The home side should have had a penalty try on seven minutes when Hughes illegally collapsed a close-range lineout maul, but New Zealand referee Lauren Jenner awarded a penalty instead, when a card and a seven-point censure seemed the more appropriate action.

Japan deservedly drew level on 16 minutes with a strike move from a scrum inside the Irish 22. Ireland got their spacing all wrong in defence allowing Japanese outhalf Ayasa Otsuka to avail of a huge gap and dot down close to the posts, the only downside that she missed the straightforward conversion.

Ireland were handed access to the Japan 22 from the restart but were unable to convert territory into points, a little too pedestrian and predictable in possession with one-out runners against which Japan defended comfortably before eventually winning a penalty turnover at a ruck.

Ireland conceded 11 penalties in the opening 40-minutes and that indiscipline gave the home side frequent access to the visitors 22. Japan went in 12-5 ahead thanks to a second try on 34 minutes, again of the softish variety, as fullback Rinka Matsuda took an inside pass and stepped inside a couple of Irish tacklers who were over-chasing.

A superb break from Otsuka on 48 minutes following another Irish turnover at a lineout, saw Japan race into the Irish 22, and they didn’t leave without points, right wing Hinano Nagura diving over following concerted pressure from the pack.

Matsuda claimed a second try with a fine run facilitated by a coupled of missed tackles. Ireland managed to deliver a riposte with a try for replacement prop Katie O’Dwyer from a well-created lineout maul but it proved a temporary respite as Japan replacement hooker Sachiko Kato powered over from close range, a try converted by Otsuka.

At 29-10 ahead Japan continued to play with a greater freedom and tempo against a tiring Ireland team, but the visitors dug in resolutely not to concede any further points.

Scoring sequence

2 mins: Behan try, 0-5; 16: Otsuka try, 5-5; 34: Matsuda try, Otsuka conversion, 12-5. Half-time: 12-5. 48: Nagura try, 17-5; 54: Matsuda try, 22-5; 59: O’Dwyer try, 22-10; 64: Kato try, Otsuka conversion, 29-10.

JAPAN: Rinka Matsuda; Hinano Nagura, Mana Furuta, Shione Nakayama, Komachi Imakugi; Ayasa Otsuka, Megumi Abe; Saki Minami (capt), Nijiho Nagata, Yuka Sadaka; Yuna Sato, Maki Takano; Seina Saito, Iroha Nagata, Ayano Nagai.

Replacements: Kie Tami for Takano 51 mins; Kyoko Hosokawa for Nagai 55 mins; Makoto Lavemai for Nagata 58 mins; Kotomi Taniguchi for Minami 58 mins; Schiko Kato for Sadaka 58 mins; Otoka Yoshimura for Sato 63 mins; Moe Tsukui for Abe 63 mins; Minori Yamamoto for Nakayama 78 mins.

IRELAND: Méabh Deely (Connacht); Natasja Behan (Leinster), Aoife Dalton (Leinster), Enya Breen (Munster), Aoife Doyle (Munster); Dannah O’Brien (Leinster), Ailsa Hughes (Leinster); Laura Feely (Connacht), Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury), Linda Djougang (Leinster); Hannah O’Connor (Leinster), Nichola Fryday (Exeter Chiefs, capt); Jo Brown (Worcester Warriors), Edel McMahon (Exeter Chiefs), Grace Moore (Saracens).

Replacements: Katie O’Dwyer (Leinster) for Feely 45 mins; Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Leinster) for Hughes 55 mins; Emma Hooban (Leinster) for Jones 68 mins; Chloe Pearse (Munster) for Djougang 68 mins; Taryn Schutzler (Saracens) for O’Connor 74 mins; Jess Keating (Life University) for Brown 74 mins; Leah Tarpey (Leinster) for Dalton 74 mins; Emma Tilly (Leinster) for Behan 74 mins.

Referee: Lauren Jenner (New Zealand)