Ireland overcame Japan 36-20 in Newcastle on Saturday
It was a middling performance with huge New Zealand Test looming; here are our player ratings
A bonus-point win and four new caps. Top of the table after two rounds of the new Nations Championship. That’s where the good news ends.
Ireland got over the line on the back of big, physical ball-carrying. Tries from Timoney, O’Toole, Henshaw, Jensen and Stewart and a fair rub of the green from the referee, after Japan had taken a shock lead in the opening minutes.
The first half was scrappy, and Ireland looked uninterested for most of the opening quarter. The formula was simple enough: when they carried with intent, brought the physicality and went the same way, they scored. Too often they tried to be too clever .
The lineout was sloppy again. Some of Japan’s dark arts contributed, but this is a problem that has showed up again, down to all the personal changes
By the final whistle, Farrell’s side resembled an Ireland A team. Some of the players handed an opportunity didn’t take it. A disjointed, flat performance, but a deserved win. Ireland’s power told in the end.
Ireland Player Ratings – Starting XV
15. Jamie Osborne – 6/10
Stepped up into a second playmaker role in the Ireland attack, and his huge left boot bought Ireland plenty of territory. Struggled when Japan went to the air on him.
14. Jimmy O’Brien – 6/10
Worked hard off his wing, but not always smartly, and he came up with some better defensive reads in the second half. He’ll be disappointed with his tackle attempt for Japan’s first try. Japan targeted him at restarts and he lost a few aerial battles early on before winning some big ones after the break.
13. Robbie Henshaw – 7/10
Powerful carry to get over for Ireland’s third try, and Japan struggled to deal with his physicality all night. Defensively solid with some good reads.
12. Stuart McCloskey – 7/10
Looked good in patches, particularly when he decided to carry and impose himself physically. His offload for Timoney in the first half was a highlight.
11. Jacob Stockdale – 4/10
Like a few others, this was a game that drifted by him. His work rate wasn’t where it needs to be at this level. Got on the ball just five times and had a bad missed tackle.
10. Ciaran Frawley – 4/10
A very rusty performance from someone who hasn’t seen many minutes in the 10 jersey in recent months. His kicking out of hand was poor at times, with two charge-downs, and he carried into contact too often when his job was to organise the Ireland attack.
9. Craig Casey – 6/10
Looked short of match sharpness in the opening quarter. Put in a huge try-saving tackle on 56th minutes to stop a certain score. When he lifted the game pace and Ireland’s carries were physical, Japan struggled with the tempo.
1. Tom O’Toole – 6/10
Led the energy for much of the first half, putting some more experienced players to shame, though he struggled at scrum time. 8 tackles, 7 carries.
2. Ronan Kelleher – 5/10
n his 50th cap he produced in defence but ultimately failed to take his opportunity, with a few wobbles in his lineout throwing. 10 tackles.
3. Thomas Clarkson – 4/10
A game that drifted by him. The scrums were a mess as he struggled with the height. He’ll be disappointed with his showing and the opportunity he was handed. 6 tackles.
4. Tadhg Beirne – 6/10
Recommended
Drifted in and out of the game, with some good defensive moments. Looked like a player getting through the night to prep for the All Blacks, but he came up with an important maul steal early in the second half just as Japan were on the front foot. 4 carries, 11 tackles.
5. James Ryan – 6/10
Another night where he hit a high number of rucks, and his defensive lineout work was better this week. Didn’t see him on the ball much. 11 tackles, 5 carries.
6. Jack Conan – 7/10
Took the fight to Japan. Won a vital penalty in the first half just as Japan were looking dangerous, and some big turnovers and penalties at the defensive breakdown halted Japan’s momentum. 12 carries, 8 tackles.
7. Nick Timoney – 7/10
A good defensive performance. Took a good line for Ireland’s first try of the night and ran a great support line to take the offload from McCloskey. 15 tackles.
8. Sean Jansen – 8/10
A solid debut for the Connacht man, who didn’t look out of place in the national jersey and was named man of the match. Good support play off Timoney’s line break, and he got over for Ireland’s bonus-point try. One of the few who took his opportunity to show Farrell he wants to play next week. 13 tackles, 12 carries.
Ireland Player Ratings – Replacements
16. Tom Stewart – 6/10
Added energy to the last quarter and his set-piece work was solid. Took a good attacking line to get over in the final minute for his first international try.
17. Billy Bohan – 7/10
A debut he can be proud of. Looked comfortable as he adjusted to the pace of international rugby and did well as the Ireland scrum improved in the last quarter. Goton the ball a few times, which will stand to him.
18. Sam Illo – 6/10
A debut for the Wesley man. Solid in his first scrum. Settled into the game and by the end he was scrum dominant and had some good ball carries and ruck involvements.
19. Cormac Izuchukwu – 5/10
On for 19 minutes and carried well in the outside channel. Got on the ball to add some impact. 5 Carries
20. Bryn Ward – 6/10
Showed some of his power when he came on and clearly wanted to show the coaches what he can bring. He won’t want to remember his first carry, which resulted in a penalty.
21. Nathan Doak – 6/10
Only on for eight minutes, but showed good vision and execution to find Stewart in space for his try.
22. Harry Byrne – 6/10
Looked assured when he came on and might have put his name in the conversation for next week, though he had a kick out on the full in his first attack.
23. Bundee Aki – 7/10
A much better impact. Direct in his carries and produced a big counter-ruck on 66 minutes when Ireland were on the ropes.
Coach – 6/10
Job done, but Farrell and his coaches won’t be happy with that. They handed the fringe players their opportunity and got some really poor technical performances around the set piece and breakdown in return. It looked ominous for much of the first half, but Ireland hung in, played in the right parts of the field, and the bench impact was good. The scoreline probably flattered them.
Four new caps and a relieved head coach. There are still issues to fix around the defence and the lineout.