Japan 10-12 Ireland
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.
Ireland hooker Ronan Kelleher. Photograph: Ben Brady
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.
A general view of McDonald Jones Stadium ahead of the game. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho 
Ireland’s Billy Bohan and Josh van der Flier ahead of the match. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho 
Japan’s Warner Dearns and Ireland’s Tadhg Beirne during the coin toss. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho
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
Théo Attissogbé during France’s clash with the Wallabies. Photograph: Chris Hyde/Getty Images
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
Keith Gleeson in action for Leinster back in 2002. Photograph: Andrew Paton/Inpho
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
Japan head coach Eddie Jones. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho
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.
One day to go 🔥
Here’s the matchday squad for the Brave Blossoms’ Nations Championship 2026 clash against Ireland tomorrow 👊
📆 Saturday, 11 July 19:10
🏟️ McDonald Jones Stadium
Catch the action live on WOWOW Prime, On Demand, JSports 1 and JSports On Demand 🍿👀#IREvJPN pic.twitter.com/G4AT3GEsOH
— Japan Rugby (@JRFURugby) July 10, 2026
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.