Welcome along to The 42′s live coverage of Ireland’s meeting with Japan in the Nations Championship.
Andy Farrell’s men face Eddie Jones’ improved Brave Blossoms in Newcastle, Australia, at 11:10am, with the match being shown live on Virgin Media One in case you’re looking.
Ireland opened their Nations Championship campaign with a hard-fought victory against Australia last Saturday, while the Japanese earned an impressive win over Italy.
Gavan Casey with you here, and I’ll bring you a blow-by-blow account — or close enough — of the game at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Farrell makes nine changes, with the potential for four debutants.
Connacht back row Sean Jansen starts his first cap, with Ulster back row Bryn Ward and Connacht props Billy Bohan and Sam Illo also set to earn their first Test minutes off the Irish bench.
Ciarán Frawley earns a rare start at out-half, too.
Your referee will be Italy’s Andrea Piardi.
Ben Brady / INPHO
Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO
Japan
15. Takuro Matsunaga
14. Kazuma Ueda
13. Dylan Riley
12. Yuya Hirose
11. Taira Main
10. Ryunosuke Ito
9. Naoto Saito
1. Takato Okabe
2. Mamoru Harada
3. Shuhei Takeuchi
4. Harry Hockings
5. Warner Dearns (captain)
6. Ben Gunter
7. Kanji Shimokawa
8. Jack Cornelsen
Replacements:
16. Hayate Era
17. Sojiro Otuska
18. Keijiro Tamefusa
19. Michael Stolberg
20. Michael Leitch
21. Tiennan Costley
22. Itsuki Kamimura
23. Sam Greene
Ireland
15. Jamie Osborne
14. Jimmy O’Brien
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Stuart McCloskey
11. Jacob Stockdale
10. Ciarán Frawley
9. Craig Casey
1. Tom O’Toole
2. Rónan Kelleher
3. Thomas Clarkson
4. Tadhg Beirne (captain)
5. James Ryan
6. Jack Conan
7. Nick Timoney
8. Sean Jansen
Replacements:
16. Tom Stewart
17. Billy Bohan
18. Sam Illo
19. Cormac Izuchukwu
20. Bryn Ward
21. Nathan Doak
22. Harry Byrne
23. Bundee Aki
Referee: Andrea Piardi [Italy].
3 hrs ago
11:10AM
Ireland’s Call gets a… hearty rendition, let’s say. And now it’s onto the national anthem of Japan, the haunting ‘Kimigayo’.
4′ – TRY FOR JAPAN! JPN 7-0 IRL: A sloppy start by Ireland is punished by Japan left wing Taira Main, who pounces on an overthrown lineout by Rónan Kelleher and takes it to the house from halfway.
Blistering pace by the Japanese attacker, whose father hails from New Zealand.
Fullback Takuro Matsunaga, who scored 17 points against Italy, makes no mistake from the tee.
Japan lead after an error-strewn start to the game by Ireland!
8′ – TRY FOR IRELAND! JPN 7-7 IRL: A wonderful, multi-phase score, finished off by Nick Timoney under the sticks.
Lovely half-break and hands by Jamie Osborne in the lead-up, with big contributions by the likes of Ciarán Frawley and Jacob Stockdale too.
Timoney scores his eighth Test try in 13 caps, I believe, and Frawley dinks over the afters as ‘Starburster’ by Fontaines DC rings around the stadium.
Some lovely attack, there.
3 hrs ago
11:28AM
13′ – JPN 7-7 IRL: Eddie Jones said he expects Japan to dominate the Irish scrum in the second half, but Ireland win the first scrum penalty of the first half through Thomas Clarkson, who buckles Takato Okabe.
Nothing comes of the ensuing lineout, however, and Japan get their own back in the next scrum; Shuhei Takeuchi on Tom O’Toole.
18′ – JPN 10-7 IRL: Matsunaga dinks over an easy three points after Craig Casey’s kick out on the full invites pressure and Stuart McCloskey illegally plays scrum-half Naoto Saito just outside the Irish 22′.
21′ – TRY FOR IRELAND! JPN 10-12 IRL: Tom O’Toole with the close-range finish!
Another patient, multi-phase build-up by Ireland, who have too much power for their ‘hosts’.
Nice burst and offload by Nick Timoney a phase or two before the finish by his provincial teammate.
Frawley snatches at the conversion, though, and it sails wide right.
Ireland lead for the first time in Newcastle.
3 hrs ago
11:41AM
25′ – JPN 10-12 IRL: Ireland have lost two lineouts early, here, albeit the second was a touch unfortunate: Piardi adjudged it not straight despite only a miminal contest by Japan, who barely got off the ground.
Japan then win an offside penalty on the Irish 22′, in front of the posts, and they’ll retake the lead here through the metronomic boot of Matsunaga, who kicks ahead of Richie Mo’unga at club level for Toshiba.
27′ – JPN 13-12 IRL: Matsunaga does what he does from the tee, and Japan are back in front.
3 hrs ago
11:46AM
31′ – JPN 13-12 IRL: Japan pinged for escorting inside their own half and Ciarán Frawley punts Ireland into the Japanese 22′, where they’ll have an attacking platform.
3 hrs ago
11:49AM
32′ – JPN 13-12 IRL: Play stopped with Ireland attacking on the Japanese 22′, with inside centre Yuya Hirose down injured just in front of play with a shoulder injury.
He seemed to hurt it earlier when Sean Jansen fell on top of him in a ruck, and a tackle on Stu McCloskey will prove his final act. On comes Tiennan Costley in his place, and play will restart shortly with an Irish scrum almost exactly on the Japan 22′.
3 hrs ago
11:51AM
34′ – JPN 13-12 IRL: Ireland’s attack goes nowhere fast but they win a penalty as Japan scrum-half is caught offside.
35′ – TRY FOR IRELAND! JPN 13-19 IRL: Robbie Henshaw produces a powerful finish, his 12th try on his 85th Test cap!
Again, Ireland just have too much muscle for Japan from close range.
It’s become a real strength of this Irish team, their clinical finishing from deep inside their opponents’ 22′.
Frawley converts from right of centre for 19-13.
3 hrs ago
11:59AM
40′ – JPN 13-19 IRL: Ireland go close on the stroke of half-time — the linebreak by Nick Timoney, who feeds Sean Jansen, who is hauled down by replacement Tiennan Costley five metres from the line.
The officials check for a deliberate knock-on by Japan on the next phase, but the Japanese defender, try-scorer Main, doesn’t touch the ball. It’s actually a brilliant read by Main and an Irish knock-on, and Japan will get the scrum which will likely take us to the break.
HT — JPN 13-19 IRL: A decent half. Ireland far from perfect but they’ve scored three tries to Japan’s one, still leading by only six at the break.
Some teething problems with all of the changes, but Ireland’s performance has improved incrementally as the half has progressed. They have too much power for Japan in attack, and their defence has settled, but they still have work to do to close this out in the second half.
Tries by Nick Timoney, Tom O’Toole and Robbie Henshaw, and two conversions by Ciarán Frawley, mean Ireland lead 19-13 at the turnaround in Newcastle.
Catch you in 15 or so.
Ben Brady / INPHO
Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO
2 hrs ago
12:16PM
Second half
41′ – JPN 13-19 IRL: Ryunosuke Ito gets us back underway in Newcastle.
2 hrs ago
12:17PM
41′ – JPN 13-19 IRL: Sam Greene, typically an out-half or fullback, has replaced the excellent try-scorer Taira Main on Japan’s left wing at the break.
2 hrs ago
12:19PM
44′ – JPN 13-19 IRL: Tighthead Shuhei Takeuchi wins his second scrum pen on Tom O’Toole and Japan have an attacking platform well inside Ireland’s 22′.
2 hrs ago
12:21PM
45′ – JPN 13-19 IRL: Japan win a penalty for a high tackle as Ireland defend inside their 5′.
They go to the corner.
2 hrs ago
12:22PM
46′ – JPN 13-19 IRL: Superb maul defence by Beirne and Ireland, and they win a scrum on their 5′!
2 hrs ago
12:25PM
48′ – JPN 13-19 IRL: Connacht’s Sam Illo on for his Ireland debut, replacing Tom Clarkson. Stuart McCloskey has also been withdrawn for Bundee Aki.
51′ – TRY FOR IRELAND! JPN 13-26 IRL: Sean Jansen on debut!
Jansen finishes from close range after Ireland went close from the scrum attack, with strong carries by Bundee Aki through midfield and Rónan Kelleher down the left edge in particular.
Frawley converts, and Ireland have breathing space with a bonus point in the bag.
Great moment for Jansen on his first cap. He’s been impressive.
2 hrs ago
12:35PM
55′ – JPN 13-26 IRL: Japan win a scrum penalty against the head deep in the Irish 22′ after Jack Conan had forced a Japanese knock-on.
Billy Bohan then replaces Tom O’Toole for his own Test debut.
Ireland under pressure here now, but Craig Casey makes a try-saving tackle in the left-hand corner, with some help from James Ryan, and Ireland win a lineout on their own 5′!
Excellent scramble ‘D’ by Ireland.
2 hrs ago
12:37PM
57′ – JPN 13-26 IRL: Another not-straight at lineout time for Ireland, and so here comes another wave of Japanese pressure.
59′ – TRY FOR JAPAN! JPN 20-26 IRL: Hayate Era eventually makes Japan’s pressure pay as he dives over under the posts!
Matsunaga converts and we’re back to a one-score game.
A self-inflicted wound by Ireland after their third botched lineout, this one on their own 5′.
Game on!
2 hrs ago
12:40PM
60′ – JPN 20-26 IRL: Tom Stewart replaces Rónan Kelleher at hooker.
2 hrs ago
12:41PM
60′ – JPN 20-26 IRL: Harry Byrne is on as well, and his first act is to overcook a kick into Japan’s backfield, out on the full from near halfway.
2 hrs ago
12:43PM
63′ – JPN 20-26 IRL: Bryn Ward becomes Ireland’s fourth debutant on the night, replacing the impressive Sean Jansen. Cormac Izuchukwu also on for Jack Conan.
2 hrs ago
12:44PM
64′ – JPN 20-26 IRL: Japan win a penalty for Ireland not releasing, and they have a lineout inside the Irish 22′.
Big chance for the Japan, who have been the better side in the second half so far!
2 hrs ago
12:45PM
65′ – JPN 20-26 IRL: Ireland force the knock-on just outside their own 22′, ending this particular Japanese attack behind where it started.
That’s Japan’s seventh handling error to Ireland’s four so far.
2 hrs ago
12:48PM
66′ – JPN 20-26 IRL: Excellent second action by Robbie Henshaw forces a Japanese knock-on at the breakdown just inside the Brave Blossoms’ half.
Scrum to Ireland.
Scrappy period of the game with wholesale changes for either side.
Ireland win the scrum penalty as Japan swing around.
2 hrs ago
12:49PM
69′ – JPN 20-26 IRL: Ireland botch another lineout, this one a shorter effort — the ball didn’t travel five metres.
Free-kick to Japan, who exit from their own 22′.
2 hrs ago
12:51PM
71′ – JPN 20-26 IRL: Japan offside between their own 22′ and 10′. Ireland get the chance to stretch their lead to two scores.
Harry Byrne will kick it from a central-right position, about 35 metres from goal.
71′ – JPN 20-29 IRL: Byrne drains the kick, Ireland lead by two scores, and young Japanese out-half Ryunosuke Ito then fails to send the restart 10 metres. Only his third professional game of rugby tonight.
Ireland will restart with a scrum on halfway, where Nathan Doak has joined the party after a good display by Craig Casey.
2 hrs ago
12:54PM
73′ – JPN 20-29 IRL: A decent Irish attack leads to another Japanese offside deep in their own territory, and Harry Byrne will prod his side into the corner.
A chance for Ireland to close this out!
2 hrs ago
12:56PM
74′ – JPN 20-29 IRL: The lineout is again messy, and Izuchukwu gets turned over on the ground. Japan exit to touch. They’re still alive, just about.
2 hrs ago
12:58PM
76′ – JPN 20-29 IRL: Another penalty to Ireland, and Byrne pings them to within five again.
78′ – JPN 20-29 IRL: Replacement hooker Era is the fall guy for Japan’s repeated infringements on their own 5′, but Japan then turn Ireland over and clear to halfway. They’ll finish with 14 men.
FT — JPN 20-36 IRL: With the clock red, Tom Stewart crosses for Ireland’s fifth after a fine team move. Harry Byrne converts.
A bonus-point success for Ireland and a job done, if not especially well.
A bit of a disjointed second half in particular as unfamiliar combinations were tested, but four debuts, five tries, and five points in Newcastle.
Onto Eden Park and the All Blacks, who are unbeaten in Auckland since 1994 — only the 52 Tests. Sheesh!
Ben Brady / INPHO
Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO
Thanks for joining our live coverage. Murray Kinsella will have a match report and reaction, while Ciarán Kennedy will provide further colour on The 42. Subscribers can also tune into a snap-reaction podcast later today.
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As it happened: Japan 20-36 Ireland, Nations Championship
Welcome along to The 42′s live coverage of Ireland’s meeting with Japan in the Nations Championship.
Andy Farrell’s men face Eddie Jones’ improved Brave Blossoms in Newcastle, Australia, at 11:10am, with the match being shown live on Virgin Media One in case you’re looking.
Ireland opened their Nations Championship campaign with a hard-fought victory against Australia last Saturday, while the Japanese earned an impressive win over Italy.
Gavan Casey with you here, and I’ll bring you a blow-by-blow account — or close enough — of the game at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Farrell makes nine changes, with the potential for four debutants.
Connacht back row Sean Jansen starts his first cap, with Ulster back row Bryn Ward and Connacht props Billy Bohan and Sam Illo also set to earn their first Test minutes off the Irish bench.
Ciarán Frawley earns a rare start at out-half, too.
Your referee will be Italy’s Andrea Piardi.
Japan
Replacements:
Ireland
Replacements:
Referee: Andrea Piardi [Italy].
Ireland’s Call gets a… hearty rendition, let’s say. And now it’s onto the national anthem of Japan, the haunting ‘Kimigayo’.
Almost go-time!
’1 – JPN 0-0 IRL: Ciarán Frawley gets us underway as Andrea Piardi sounds his whistle in Newcastle.
4′ – TRY FOR JAPAN! JPN 7-0 IRL: A sloppy start by Ireland is punished by Japan left wing Taira Main, who pounces on an overthrown lineout by Rónan Kelleher and takes it to the house from halfway.
Blistering pace by the Japanese attacker, whose father hails from New Zealand.
Fullback Takuro Matsunaga, who scored 17 points against Italy, makes no mistake from the tee.
Japan lead after an error-strewn start to the game by Ireland!
8′ – TRY FOR IRELAND! JPN 7-7 IRL: A wonderful, multi-phase score, finished off by Nick Timoney under the sticks.
Lovely half-break and hands by Jamie Osborne in the lead-up, with big contributions by the likes of Ciarán Frawley and Jacob Stockdale too.
Timoney scores his eighth Test try in 13 caps, I believe, and Frawley dinks over the afters as ‘Starburster’ by Fontaines DC rings around the stadium.
Some lovely attack, there.
13′ – JPN 7-7 IRL: Eddie Jones said he expects Japan to dominate the Irish scrum in the second half, but Ireland win the first scrum penalty of the first half through Thomas Clarkson, who buckles Takato Okabe.
Nothing comes of the ensuing lineout, however, and Japan get their own back in the next scrum; Shuhei Takeuchi on Tom O’Toole.
18′ – JPN 10-7 IRL: Matsunaga dinks over an easy three points after Craig Casey’s kick out on the full invites pressure and Stuart McCloskey illegally plays scrum-half Naoto Saito just outside the Irish 22′.
Sloppy again by Farrell’s men.
21′ – TRY FOR IRELAND! JPN 10-12 IRL: Tom O’Toole with the close-range finish!
Another patient, multi-phase build-up by Ireland, who have too much power for their ‘hosts’.
Nice burst and offload by Nick Timoney a phase or two before the finish by his provincial teammate.
Frawley snatches at the conversion, though, and it sails wide right.
Ireland lead for the first time in Newcastle.
25′ – JPN 10-12 IRL: Ireland have lost two lineouts early, here, albeit the second was a touch unfortunate: Piardi adjudged it not straight despite only a miminal contest by Japan, who barely got off the ground.
Japan then win an offside penalty on the Irish 22′, in front of the posts, and they’ll retake the lead here through the metronomic boot of Matsunaga, who kicks ahead of Richie Mo’unga at club level for Toshiba.
27′ – JPN 13-12 IRL: Matsunaga does what he does from the tee, and Japan are back in front.
31′ – JPN 13-12 IRL: Japan pinged for escorting inside their own half and Ciarán Frawley punts Ireland into the Japanese 22′, where they’ll have an attacking platform.
32′ – JPN 13-12 IRL: Play stopped with Ireland attacking on the Japanese 22′, with inside centre Yuya Hirose down injured just in front of play with a shoulder injury.
He seemed to hurt it earlier when Sean Jansen fell on top of him in a ruck, and a tackle on Stu McCloskey will prove his final act. On comes Tiennan Costley in his place, and play will restart shortly with an Irish scrum almost exactly on the Japan 22′.
34′ – JPN 13-12 IRL: Ireland’s attack goes nowhere fast but they win a penalty as Japan scrum-half is caught offside.
Lineout deep inside the Japan 22′. Chance.
35′ – TRY FOR IRELAND! JPN 13-19 IRL: Robbie Henshaw produces a powerful finish, his 12th try on his 85th Test cap!
Again, Ireland just have too much muscle for Japan from close range.
It’s become a real strength of this Irish team, their clinical finishing from deep inside their opponents’ 22′.
Frawley converts from right of centre for 19-13.
40′ – JPN 13-19 IRL: Ireland go close on the stroke of half-time — the linebreak by Nick Timoney, who feeds Sean Jansen, who is hauled down by replacement Tiennan Costley five metres from the line.
The officials check for a deliberate knock-on by Japan on the next phase, but the Japanese defender, try-scorer Main, doesn’t touch the ball. It’s actually a brilliant read by Main and an Irish knock-on, and Japan will get the scrum which will likely take us to the break.
HT — JPN 13-19 IRL: A decent half. Ireland far from perfect but they’ve scored three tries to Japan’s one, still leading by only six at the break.
Some teething problems with all of the changes, but Ireland’s performance has improved incrementally as the half has progressed. They have too much power for Japan in attack, and their defence has settled, but they still have work to do to close this out in the second half.
Tries by Nick Timoney, Tom O’Toole and Robbie Henshaw, and two conversions by Ciarán Frawley, mean Ireland lead 19-13 at the turnaround in Newcastle.
Catch you in 15 or so.
41′ – JPN 13-19 IRL: Ryunosuke Ito gets us back underway in Newcastle.
41′ – JPN 13-19 IRL: Sam Greene, typically an out-half or fullback, has replaced the excellent try-scorer Taira Main on Japan’s left wing at the break.
44′ – JPN 13-19 IRL: Tighthead Shuhei Takeuchi wins his second scrum pen on Tom O’Toole and Japan have an attacking platform well inside Ireland’s 22′.
45′ – JPN 13-19 IRL: Japan win a penalty for a high tackle as Ireland defend inside their 5′.
They go to the corner.
46′ – JPN 13-19 IRL: Superb maul defence by Beirne and Ireland, and they win a scrum on their 5′!
48′ – JPN 13-19 IRL: Connacht’s Sam Illo on for his Ireland debut, replacing Tom Clarkson. Stuart McCloskey has also been withdrawn for Bundee Aki.
51′ – TRY FOR IRELAND! JPN 13-26 IRL: Sean Jansen on debut!
Jansen finishes from close range after Ireland went close from the scrum attack, with strong carries by Bundee Aki through midfield and Rónan Kelleher down the left edge in particular.
Frawley converts, and Ireland have breathing space with a bonus point in the bag.
Great moment for Jansen on his first cap. He’s been impressive.
55′ – JPN 13-26 IRL: Japan win a scrum penalty against the head deep in the Irish 22′ after Jack Conan had forced a Japanese knock-on.
Billy Bohan then replaces Tom O’Toole for his own Test debut.
Ireland under pressure here now, but Craig Casey makes a try-saving tackle in the left-hand corner, with some help from James Ryan, and Ireland win a lineout on their own 5′!
Excellent scramble ‘D’ by Ireland.
57′ – JPN 13-26 IRL: Another not-straight at lineout time for Ireland, and so here comes another wave of Japanese pressure.
That’s their third lost lineout of the game.
59′ – TRY FOR JAPAN! JPN 20-26 IRL: Hayate Era eventually makes Japan’s pressure pay as he dives over under the posts!
Matsunaga converts and we’re back to a one-score game.
A self-inflicted wound by Ireland after their third botched lineout, this one on their own 5′.
Game on!
60′ – JPN 20-26 IRL: Tom Stewart replaces Rónan Kelleher at hooker.
60′ – JPN 20-26 IRL: Harry Byrne is on as well, and his first act is to overcook a kick into Japan’s backfield, out on the full from near halfway.
63′ – JPN 20-26 IRL: Bryn Ward becomes Ireland’s fourth debutant on the night, replacing the impressive Sean Jansen. Cormac Izuchukwu also on for Jack Conan.
64′ – JPN 20-26 IRL: Japan win a penalty for Ireland not releasing, and they have a lineout inside the Irish 22′.
Big chance for the Japan, who have been the better side in the second half so far!
65′ – JPN 20-26 IRL: Ireland force the knock-on just outside their own 22′, ending this particular Japanese attack behind where it started.
That’s Japan’s seventh handling error to Ireland’s four so far.
66′ – JPN 20-26 IRL: Excellent second action by Robbie Henshaw forces a Japanese knock-on at the breakdown just inside the Brave Blossoms’ half.
Scrum to Ireland.
Scrappy period of the game with wholesale changes for either side.
Ireland win the scrum penalty as Japan swing around.
69′ – JPN 20-26 IRL: Ireland botch another lineout, this one a shorter effort — the ball didn’t travel five metres.
Free-kick to Japan, who exit from their own 22′.
71′ – JPN 20-26 IRL: Japan offside between their own 22′ and 10′. Ireland get the chance to stretch their lead to two scores.
Harry Byrne will kick it from a central-right position, about 35 metres from goal.
71′ – JPN 20-29 IRL: Byrne drains the kick, Ireland lead by two scores, and young Japanese out-half Ryunosuke Ito then fails to send the restart 10 metres. Only his third professional game of rugby tonight.
Ireland will restart with a scrum on halfway, where Nathan Doak has joined the party after a good display by Craig Casey.
73′ – JPN 20-29 IRL: A decent Irish attack leads to another Japanese offside deep in their own territory, and Harry Byrne will prod his side into the corner.
A chance for Ireland to close this out!
74′ – JPN 20-29 IRL: The lineout is again messy, and Izuchukwu gets turned over on the ground. Japan exit to touch. They’re still alive, just about.
76′ – JPN 20-29 IRL: Another penalty to Ireland, and Byrne pings them to within five again.
78′ – JPN 20-29 IRL: Replacement hooker Era is the fall guy for Japan’s repeated infringements on their own 5′, but Japan then turn Ireland over and clear to halfway. They’ll finish with 14 men.
FT — JPN 20-36 IRL: With the clock red, Tom Stewart crosses for Ireland’s fifth after a fine team move. Harry Byrne converts.
A bonus-point success for Ireland and a job done, if not especially well.
A bit of a disjointed second half in particular as unfamiliar combinations were tested, but four debuts, five tries, and five points in Newcastle.
Onto Eden Park and the All Blacks, who are unbeaten in Auckland since 1994 — only the 52 Tests. Sheesh!
Thanks for joining our live coverage. Murray Kinsella will have a match report and reaction, while Ciarán Kennedy will provide further colour on The 42. Subscribers can also tune into a snap-reaction podcast later today.
Catch you next week!
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