Ireland 41; Japan 10
Ireland scorers: Tries: J Crowley, N Timoney, A Porter, G McCarthy, P McCarthy, T O’Brien Cons: J Crowley (2), S Prendergast (2) Pens: J Crowley (1).
Japan scorers: Tries: K Sato Cons: S Lee (1) Pens: Seungsin Lee (1)
Let’s face it, you’d expect Ireland to beat Japan fairly handsomely but even with a victory margin of 31 points, there was something flat about this home performance in the Aviva Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Ahead by only seven points at the break, it was only when the men from the Rising Sun started to run out of gas after the hour mark that the men in green were able to click into gear with the scoring of three late tries to put a good complexion on the scoreboard.
It was a view many of the crowd felt leaving Lansdowne Road with Head CoachAndy Farrell also admitting he felt frustration at the end of the 80 minutes play.
Following the previous week’s defeat by the All Blacks in Chicago, the Irish chief had called for an improvement all round but didn’t feel he got it - especially over the first 40 minutes.
“Not good enough in the first half. I'm in a soundproof box, but I could tell that the mood was flattish throughout the first half. You 100 per cent have to roll the dice a little bit to give people opportunities and find their feet and compete.
"It's very easy to pick your best 23 or whatever but that wouldn't serve us any good down the line. Over the course of two games most people have had a shot at it now and we need to get over ourselves a little bit and start knuckling down for what's coming ahead because obviously the opposition gets bigger and stronger,” he explained.
Although making eight changes, Ireland ran into an early 17-0 lead but then stalled for the rest of the first half.
“The response that we wanted from half-time onwards, I thought, was pleasing enough, because I think when you make a good few errors within your game, it can suppress you a little bit. We were feeling sorry for ourselves a little bit and the mood wasn't how it should be, but how we got over ourselves and got some tempo back into the game in the second half is credit to the lads.
“I suppose creating a few more opportunities as well, but not finishing them off with the last pass etc, is something else that obviously needs cleaning up, but making the inroads in the first place is pleasing enough,” he stated.
Now with Australia and double World Champions South Africa next on the horizon, Farrell said Ireland simply must get better if they were to compete with these top sides.
“I suppose overall, if you look at where we were, not just scoreboard-wise, but how we were playing in the first half, to come away with 41-10, you'd think you should be pleased, pleasing aspects, but we've got to be better obviously with the opposition that's coming.
“I thought the game was typified by; we were defending well, but just 'well' instead of having a bit of bite.
“Our defence was the best part of our game, by the way, in that stage. Getting off the line and having real intent in our collisions is something that we need to chase down a little bit more. As I say, it was the best part of our game, so therefore the errors that we made set-piece-wise or in attack and the lack of intent, punching onto the ball etc, all accumulated in the mood of the game.
The game also threw up injury worries as Jamie Osborne seems set to be ruled out with a shoulder problem.
“Doesn't look good. Poor lad. You could see why, by the way, he was holding his arm.”
A major plus for the Irish was the display of wingerTommy O’Brien who also got in for one of the six Ireland tries.
Ireland: J Osborne; T O'Brien, T Farrell, R Henshaw, J Stockdale; J Crowley, C Casey; A Porter, R Kelleher, T Clarkson; J Ryan, T Beirne; R Baird, N Timoney, C Doris Replacements: G McCarthy (for Kelleher, 57), P McCarthy (for Porter, 67), F Bealham (for Clarkson, 57), C Prendergast (for Ryan, 51), J Conan (for Timoney, 51), CBlade (for Casey, 61), S Prendergast (for Crowley, 51), J O'Brien (for Osborne, 65).
