Thomas Clarkson is expecting Ireland to come up against a “fired up” Japan on Saturday in Newcastle, after their opponents’ head coach Eddie Jones voiced his frustrations over the venue for this weekend’s game.
While Japan are the official home side for Saturday’s Nations Championship clash, the game will be played at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, rather than in Tokyo, where they hosted Italy on Saturday, and where they will take on France next week.
Back in April, Jones claimed the reason the game will be played in Australia rather than in Tokyo is that “Ireland have all the power at World Rugby”, adding that his side have to “suck it up” and accept they will lose home advantage.
With Ireland’s win against Australia overlapping with Japan’s 27-10 victory over the Italians, none of the Irish players would have had a chance to see next week’s opponents before speaking to the media on Saturday night.
But the manner of that 17-point win speaks for itself.
“They’ll obviously have a bit of momentum,” Clarkson said, as attention turned to this weekend’s game.
“I think they’re a bit fired up, the game’s being played in Australia as well, so they’ll have a lot of reasons to be motivated first, so I expect we will be enjoying tonight, but then getting straight back into navigating then.
“When we played them in November, they’re always really good around the contact area. They’re all technique-wise, they’re chopping you low, they’re scrumming, they’re mauling, they’re always really well-drilled, so expect that.”
Thomas Clarkson (l) celebrates Ireland’s win with Stuart McCloskey
Saturday’s venue also allows Ireland remain in Sydney until Thursday before taking the relatively easy two-hour drive north to Newcastle, while Japan had a long-haul flight on Sunday, after their impressive win the previous day.
“It’s such an unbelievable city, probably the best city I’ve ever been to,” Clarkson added.
“So, yeah, we’re loving our time here, and I think it’ll be about two and a half weeks total by the time we leave.
“Just trying to love every minute. It’s one of my first proper tours with the squad, so yeah, it’s been very cool.”
The Leinster tighthead prop had a night he will never forget on Saturday, scoring the decisive try at Allianz Stadium.
Clarkson forced his way over the line three mimutes from time to level the contest at 31-31, before Sam Prendergast’s conversion nudged Ireland in front.
It was the 26-year-old’s second Irish try on his 13th Test appearance, and he admits this try had a bit more significance than his previous one, which came in the 106-7 win against Portugal last summer.
Beneath a pile of bodies, Thomas Clakson scores the decisive try in Ireland’s 33-31 win against Australia
“I think we were about 50 points ahead when I scored the last one, so… it’s good craic!
“To win the game is unbelievable. I just wanted to come on and bring a bit of impact, so I got to do that.”
Clarkson says he “never doubted” that Prendergast would add the extras to put Ireland ahead for the fourth and final time on the night, but there was a late scare in Sydney as they watched Australia’s Ben Donaldson line up a long-range penalty with the final play of the game.
Donaldson’s miss confirmed the Ireland win, one in which Clarkson admits they rode their luck at times.
“You know, you have no control over that [Donaldson kick], you’re just standing there watching.
“If it went over it went over, and thank God it didn’t. But, yeah, I think we got away with that one there, too. It obviously wasn’t a perfect performance.
“Coming away to the southern hemisphere, it’s never going to be perfect.
“But I suppose it’s about how you deal with the way the game’s going and trying to swing it in your favour. And, like, to win the way we did at the end, it probably makes it a little bit sweeter than if we’d kind of won by 30, absolutely delighted.”