Japan fall to disappointing loss
DUBLIN (Nov. 6) – Japan fell to a disappointing 60-5 defeat to Ireland on Saturday at Aviva Stadium in just their fourth game since Rugby World Cup 2019.
Japan coach Jamie Joseph praised the hosts and rued his side’s mistakes as Ireland ran in nine tries with Japan’s only response a second-half five pointer by Siosaia Fifita.
“I thought Ireland were very very good,” Joseph said. “The set piece was the starting point. They put us under a lot of pressure particularly in the line-out. There was also unforced errors from us. Put a yellow card in with that and it is impossible to play.”
Joseph said injuries, particularly at lock, had also compromised the way Japan likes to play rugby, and that the team had a “little bit of work to do.”
Captain Lappies Labuschagne agreed saying Ireland “put us under pressure from the start” and capitalized on their multiple line breaks.
“They did really well creating momentum and that put us under pressure everywhere else,” he said.
Ireland opened the scoring in the fourth minute through James Lowe and led 29-0 at the break as they dominated the breakdown.
Johnny Sexton, playing in his 100th test for Ireland, added the extras before Andrew Conway crossed twice in the space of eight minutes to make it 19-0 with 21 minutes on the clock.
Sexton then kicked a penalty goal in the 23rd minute and converted a try by Jamison Gibson-Park as Ireland kept Japan off the scoreboard during the first stanza.
The second half saw more of the same as Ireland’s forwards continued to dominate proceedings.
Sexton ensured there was extra reason to celebrate his century of caps as he crossed for a try of his own in the 49th minute before Bundee Aki touched down to make it 41-0.
Fifita’s try came in 57th minute following a good run and offload from Kazuki Himeno but that was the visitors’ only score.
Further tries from Garry Ringrose, Conway and Cian Healy ensured it was an emphatic win for the Irish.
“We’re happy that the performance matched the occasion,” said Ireland coach, Andy Farrell.
“Our defence was outstanding. We put pressure on Japan and they spilled the ball a bit and we kept calm and clinical in attack. It was nice to see things come to fruition.”
Japan, meanwhile, were left questioning where things went wrong, especially in defense.
“We were under pressure at the point of contact, and even when we had the ball, we were immediately turned over or gave a penalty away, which is why we didn’t have the ball to attack.,” said vice captain Ryoto Nakamura.
“As a game plan, we were talking about trying to attack in an unstructured state by first applying pressure in defense then using the kick. Ireland’s very physical attack was more unexpected than we had prepared for.”
No. 8 Himeno said the result was due to the team’s “preparation and mindset, rather than a difficult opponent.”
“I think we played a really poor match, and I feel so frustrated I feel like I could cry. I think we have to review and work as a team. Ireland attacked well and we just received it, which is one of the reasons why we could not grasp the flow easily.”
The Brave Blossoms play Portugal in Lisbon next week before taking on Scotland and Himeno was hopeful the team “have a chance to regain our pride. Next time, I want to prepare to win physically.”