Japan 20 Ireland 36
We shall leave it there for our live coverage. Thanks for joining us and be sure to stay tuned to the website/app for all the post match coverage.
We’ll be back bright and early next Saturday for the All Blacks clash, where the top of the northern hemisphere group in the new Nations Championship takes on top of the southern pool.
All things considered, with the number of changes made by Andy Farrell and the risk for cohesion that brings, I suspect the Ireland boss will be reasonably happy with that.
The lineout was at times a shambles, but when it went right, the first phase attack was good. There were enough decent moments in phase play but you would still like Ireland to show a bit more ambition, particularly in the offload.
Defensively, Ireland were very good. Robbie Henshaw in particular had a strong display on that side of the ball.
TRY IRELAND - Tom Stewart
80 mins: Ireland finish with a flourish. Quick ball, good passing decisions and a series of strong carries are too much for Japan. Doak spots space close to the ruck and Stewart runs the line, finding a gap 10m out to score.
Byrne converts and that’s all she wrote from Newcastle.
Full-time: Japan 20-36 Ireland
80 mins: That may well sum Ireland up.
Some good defensive work as Henshaw forces another spill in contact. As they try and break to cash in, an error costs them as Henshaw’s attempted scoop off the floor goes into touch instead of hitting Osborne in space.
Yellow card - Hayate Era
78 mins: Japan were on a warning. Era is caught offside and he’ll end his night in the bin.
Ireland can’t take advantage, though. Japan get in over the ball close to the line to win a jackal penalty. You could ask if the tackler rolled away there, but the benefit of the doubt goes to the defence.
75 mins: That’s where Ireland are missing the pace of a Baloucoune or Tommy O’Brien. Osborne finds space with a clever kick in behind but Japan are able to turn on their heels and get back to deal with the threat.
With one of those two on the pitch, it would have been an interesting footrace.
74 mins: Stewart tries to hit Beirne at the front of the lineout but he’s outjumped by the Japanese jumper.
Ireland do hold onto the loose ball, but it’s another lineout that does not go smoothly.
A few phases later, Japan swoop for a breakdown turnover and clear their lines.
73 mins: Oh Ireland should do better there.
A first phase strike, having two playmakers on in Byrne and Frawley works very well. If Frawley passes to Osborne, does he have a chance of barging over? He doesn’t and a phase later Ryan spills.
Japan had been caught offside, meaning they will get another chance. Referee Piardi warns them about penalties inside the 22.
71 mins: Ireland’s latest attack is sparked by Jimmy O’Brien winning an aerial contest. He’s been good tonight.
Ireland earn a penalty as Japan stray offside. Harry Byrne summons the tee.
He’s accurate from just outside the 22, stretching Ireland’s lead beyond a converted try.
Japan 20-29 Ireland
69 mins: We do not like those apples, though.
Stewart looks to go short with the lineout with a clever move, but he didn’t throw it the required 5 metres.
It’s been a bad fortnight for the Irish lineout.
67 mins: Now it’s Aki’s turn to force a mistake, his counter-ruck forcing a knock-on at the back of the breakdown.
And then Ireland win a penalty at the scrum. How do you like them apples, Eddie?
65 mins: A big tackle from Henshaw slows Japan down. Harry Byrne and Ward then follow up as Japan are on the back foot, forcing a spill. A much needed strong defensive set from Ireland.
64 mins: Bryn Ward’s first cary makes decent ground but his support is slow to hit the cleanout, allowing Japan to swoop for a jackal penalty.
They are up for this and they’ll have the ball inside the 22 after that kick down the line.
61 mins: Harry Byrne is on but his first touch of note is to kick the ball out on the full, he was looking for grass inside the 22.
It’s been a night of errors for those in the Irish outhalf shirt.
Bryn Ward is on to complete the debut set for Ireland. Izuchukwu joins him as Conan as Jansen depart.
TRY JAPAN - Hayate Era
59 mins: Ireland are made to pay for their faltering lineout.
Era, the replacement hooker, barrells over from close range. Matsunaga converts from straight in front. This game didn’t look to have an interesting final quarter in the locker, but that’s what we have all of a sudden.
Japan 20-26 Ireland
56 mins: Brilliant tackle from Casey to shunt Greene into touch as Japan looked to get over in the corner.
Ireland’s defence remains strong.
But the lineout does not. Another crooked throw from Kelleher gifts Japan a second chance 5m from the Irish line.
54 mins: Japan’s latest attack ends as Leitch spills an unsympathetic pass from Dearns.
This risks petering out into a bit of a nothing contest as Japan start looking weary.
That said, they’ve just won a scrum penalty. Eddie Jones saying Japan would have the scrum upper hand in the second half? Prophetic.
Conceding that penalty is Tom O’Toole’s last act, Billy Bohan on to repalce him. Another debut.
TRY IRELAND - Sean Jansen
51 mins: A debut try for the Connacht number eight. And a bonus point for Ireland.
It all comes off the lineout, Henshaw’s ball out the back to Aki cutting Japan open. From there, Ireland are away.
Kelleher went close with a carry out wide but Ireland remain patient inside the 22, Jansen eventually powering over. Frawley converts.
Japan 13-26 Ireland
48 mins: Sam Illo is on at tighthead for Tom Clarkson, the Connacht man making his Ireland debut. Bundee Aki is also on, trying to figure out who’s gone off for him... It’s McCloskey.
46 mins: The gamble does not pay off.
Beirne swims through the middle of the maul, getting on the ball and forcing a turnover. Big defensive moment for Ireland.
45 mins: Ah, Japan spill metres from the line on their most threatening attack of the game.
They did have an advantage, though. Ireland guilty of a high tackle.
Japan turn down three points and go to the corner.
41 mins: Back underway for the second half.
Can Ireland keep pulling away? The evidence of the first half would suggest they should.
Half-time: Japan 13-19 Ireland
Ireland made four line breaks in the whole match last week. They already have three in this match.
The attack has had a lot more cutting edge, particularly with the offload or tip passes close to the ruck. Once inside the 22, Ireland have been efficient, scoring 4.7 points per entry.
Japan are within six points, sure, but they haven’t really offered any attacking threat. The first score was well taken but a opportunistic one off the back of an Ireland error. Since then, they’ve not looked like crossing again, granted Ireland have given them chances off the tee.
40 mins: Oh Ireland butcher a score. Timoney with the break, Jansen on the support. It’s top work to force the gap.
Dearns does fantastically well with a try-saving tackle on Jansen, but then the ball goes to deck as Ireland spread it wide. Chance gone.
Or is it? The TMO has intervened. Did the ball go loose because of a deliberate knock-on?
No. Main stretched a hand out to try and disrupt a pass to Henshaw, but he completely missed it. Henshaw spilled all by himself. Main was trying to slap the ball down but he didn’t make contact!
39 mins: Ireland’s defence looks much better than last week. Connected. No dog legs. No passive tackles.
It forces Ito to try a speculative cross-kick which he launches out on the full.
TRY IRELAND - Robbie Henshaw
35 mins: Too easy, but Ireland will take it.
The maul makes some good yardage, sending the defence moving backwards. Then Casey pulls the ball from the forwards, hitting Henshaw who uses a little bit of footwork and a whole lot of power to force his way over.
Frawley converts.
Japan 13-19 Ireland
34 mins: More phases, more precise attack for Ireland. They do earn a penalty as Japan drift offside.
They turn down the shot to go into the lead. To the corner Frawley kicks.
32 mins: A loose pass to Frawley sees Ireland on the back foot. God love him, he’s had mistakes but now Frawley’s teammates aren’t helping him out on what is a big night for him in the 10 shirt.
30 mins: Conan pops up with a breakdown turnover. He survived three attempted clearouts there.
Brilliant.
29 mins: Frawley has just had too many headline negative moments.
Not for the first time, an attempted kick is blocked. Is he just holding onto the ball a second too long? Telegraphing his kick too much?
Not sure. But this block leads to a Japan kick in behind, putting Osborne under pressure on the scramble. He does well to let it bounce over the line and dot down for the goal line drop.
28 mins: Tadhg Beirne gives away the penalty at the breakdown, putting his hands where they shouldn’t be.
Inside the 22, Matsunaga takes the chance to kick Japan back into the lead.
Japan 13-12 Ireland
26 mins: The speed of Japan’s attack will never not be a threat.
They get on the outside of the Irish midfield a little too easily, but Ireland get across to scramble well. In the end, Osborne deals with a chip in behind nicely, gathering and clearing on the spin before the chase gets to him.
23 mins: A good few minutes for O’Toole. In tandem with Conan, he latches on to a defensive breakdown, forcing a penalty and a chance to clear their lines.
The good work is undone, though. Another lineout goes awry, that’s the third one of the half already where Ireland have made a mess of possession.
This one was for a crooked throw.
TRY IRELAND - Tom O’Toole
21 mins: Another very well-worked score.
It’s Jimmy O’Brien again breaking into the 22, a short tip close to the ruck sending him into space. Once in the danger zone, Ireland go up a gear with the power in the carry and ruck speed. Japan can’t cope, O’Toole this time the beneficiary from close range.
Frawley with a poor miss off the tee.
Japan 10-12 Ireland
18 mins: No mistake from Matsunaga. Just outside the 22 but in a central position, it’s an easy kick.
Japan 10-7 Ireland
17 mins: Ah Stu, you can’t do that. Part of the ruck, he plays the nine illegally. Soft penalty.
Japan call for the kicking tee.
15 mins: Now Tom O’Toole gives away a penalty at the scrum, this one for his angle.
Tit for tat at the set-piece at the moment. It’s been a difficult few games so far at the scrum for O’Toole, back at loosehead of course after playing most of his rugby at tighthead for Ulster.
13 mins: Round two of the scrum battle goes Ireland’s way. Clarkson will get the credit there as his opposite number, Takato Okabe gets too long with his feet behind him and collapses.
Penalty Ireland.
TRY IRELAND - Nick Timoney
9 mins: That is so good.
For a few phases, it was deja vu in terms of Ireland playing empty phases close to halfway. All of a sudden, two offloads are thrown and Osborne is linking with O’Brien to get into the 22.
With the line broken, Ireland revert to type close to the ruck but they are so effective at that when close to the line. Eventually, it’s Timoney who bursts over under the sticks.
Easy conversion for Frawley.
Japan 7-7 Ireland
7 mins: The first scrum of the day goes Japan’s way, Kelleher giving away a free-kick for not using a brake foot.
This has been a poor, error-strewn start from Ireland.
TRY JAPAN - Taira Main
4 mins: Tie a bow on it. That’s a gift from Ireland and Main accepts it with glee.
Kelleher’s lineout is overthrown, Main racing up to gather at the back of the lineout. Turning defence into attack, he steps past Frawley who slips before sprinting off into the distance. No one can lay a finger on him.
Takuro Matsunaga, the fullback, converts.
Japan 7-0 Ireland
2 mins: It’s a sloppy start for Frawley in the 10 shirt. First, his attempted kick is blocked by a Japanese leg. Then, when trying to throw a wide pass, he puts it between runners instead of into the hands of a teammate.
To deck the ball goes but Ireland recover possession before Casey clears.
1 min: And they’re off!
Ireland’s second Nations Championship fixture is underway. Ciarán Frawley kicks us off in Newcastle after a shrill blast of the whistle from referee Andrea Piardi.
Japan 0-0 Ireland
A nice moment for Rónan Kellener who leads the Ireland team out on the occasion of his 50th cap.
Right then. Kick-off is fast approaching.
Will we see a more disciplined, better connected defensive performance from Ireland?
Will they show more threat in attack, an ability to cut through the line?
All while sticking to the ruthless 22 efficiency we saw in Sydney last week?
We’re about to find out.
Just under 15 minutes until kick-off.
Wow, it’s just gone full-time in Brisbane. France have done a second half demolition job on the Wallabies, turning around a half-time deficit.
With a number of first choice players left at home as well. Fabien Galthié probably has the deepest international talent pool in rugby.
They are also a joy to watch. When they come out, look at the performance of Théo Attissogbé on the highlights.
Full-time: Australia 26-42 France
Down in Sydney, Gerry Thornley has caught up with Keith Gleeson, the Australia born former Leinster and Ireland backrow. Given the week that’s in it, Rugby League’s State of Origin dominating the news waves down under, Gerry got some good thoughts from Gleeson on the battle between League and Union in Australia.
You can read the interview here.
“You see [league] players more regularly. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Waratahs player walking around the streets, whereas in Dublin kids who idolise rugby players would see their Irish internationals like Dan Sheehan walking up to the supermarket in Tescos in Donnybrook. You just don’t get that here.”
— Keith Gleeson
Eddie Jones is at it again. Looking at the Irish debutants among the bench propping department, he reckons Japan have an edge.
Good on him. Rugby pressers are boring at the best of times, at least the bloke is being honest.
You can read Eddie’s full thoughts here.
“In the second half, we expect to dominate the Irish scrum.”
— Eddie Jones
Given we’re still 90 minutes away from kick-off, there’s still time to listen to our pre-match podcast while you’re walking the dog or making the family breakfast.
For this chat, I was joined by Brett Igoe, the former Leinster and Scotland analyst. There’s some good stuff in here about analysis espionage with a detailed look at some of the changes Andy Farrell has made to his Ireland team this week.
Have a listen.
What to make of Ireland's rotation for Japan?
Here’s the Japan team. Of course, they beat Italy last time out in Tokyo.
Keep an eye out for Ryunosuke Ito at 10, he’s a real livewire. Warner Dearns at lock is another of their stronger players - he recently turned down an approach from New Zealand to switch his international allegiance!
Michael Leitch, one of the heroes from the South Africa win at the 2015 World Cup that put Japanese rugby on the map, is still going. He’s on the bench today.
Starting with the Irish team, there are changes aplenty. Those who continually call on Andy Farrell to freshen things up have been satiated.
There are four uncapped players set to debut. Connacht’s Sean Jansen is at number eight while Billy Bohan, Sam Illo and Bryn Ward alre all on the bench.
Ciarán Frawley and Craig Casey form a new look halfback combination, while Robbie Henshaw replaces Gary Ringrose at 13. Jamie Osborne is back at fullback as Hugo Keenan gets the week off, Jacob Stockdale coming in at wing to complete the backthree alongside Jimmy O’Brien.
Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy and Josh van der Flier all get a breather, allowing Rónan Kelleher, Tom Clarkson, Tadhg Beirne and Nick Timoney all a start.
Notably, the provincial breakdown of the squad reads different to what we’re used to. Leinster and Ulster lead the way with eight players apiece, Connacht have five while there are just two Munstermen.
A sign of the times?
Good morrow Irish Times readers and welcome back to our live rugby coverage.
Japan vs Ireland in Newcastle, New South Wales.
A familiar opponent in Eddie Jones, the Japanese boss, in a new location north of Sydney. Ireland also recently played Japan, beating them 41-10 in Dublin back before Christmas.
Nathan Johns here to guide you through all the day’s action. Kick-off is just about two hours away, we’ll build up to the start of the match right here.
