Hello and welcome to today’s liveblog, as Ireland take on Japan in the Summer Series.
Here are the teams for today’s game.
Ireland
15. Hugo Keenan
14. Jordan Larmour
13. Chris Farrell
12. Stuart McCloskey
11. Jacob Stockdale
10. Joey Carbery
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
1. Dave Kilcoyne
2. Rónan Kelleher
3. Finlay Bealham
4. Ultan Dillane
5. James Ryan (captain)
6. Peter O’Mahony
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris
Replacements:
16. Rob Herring
17. Ed Byrne
18. John Ryan
19. Ryan Baird
20. Gavin Coombes
21. Craig Casey
22. Billy Burns
23. Shane Daly
Japan:
15. Kotaro Matsushima
14. Semisi Masirewa
13. Timothy Lafaele
12. Ryoto Nakamura
11. Siosaia Fifita
10. Yu Tamura
9. Naoto Saito
1. Keita Inagaki
2. Atsushi Sakate
3. Jiwon Koo
4. Wimpie van der Walt
5. James Moore
6. Michael Leitch (captain)
7. Lappies Labuschagné
8. Kazuki Himeno
Replacements:
16. Kosuke Horikoshi
17. Craig Millar
18. Asaeli Ai Valu
19. Jack Cornelson
20. Tevita Tatafu
21. Kaito Shigeno
22. Rikiya Matsuda
23. Shane Gates
Referee: Karl Dickson [RFU].
It is anthem time.
Our man, Murray Kinsella, will report on today’s game. He’s in the best seat in the house at the Aviva.
How good!
— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) July 3, 2021
Fans back in the Aviva Stadium! 💯 pic.twitter.com/K5dYVpFeGn
Thankfully the rain has eased off in Dublin.
— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) July 3, 2021
Looking forward to seeing and hearing 3,000 fans back in here today! #IREvJPN pic.twitter.com/mbQnjXlmgm
It will be fascinating to see how Joey Carbery gets on today, two years on since his last start for Ireland. One late change for Japan sees Tevita Tatafu come in for Kazuki Himeno in the backrow.
Game about to kick off.
2 minutes – Early tackle by Ronan Kelleher on Michael Leitch, the Japan captain. Jamison-Gibson Park subsequently kicks out on the full.
3 minutes – Penalty to Japan after James Ryan is penalised for pulling Michael Leitch’s hand at the lineout. Kickable distance.
PENALTY, JAPAN – Ireland 0-3 Japan (Yu Tamura)
3 minutes, 30 seconds on the clock and Tamura gets Japan off the mark.
6 minutes Carbery’s kick ahead is brilliantly gathered by Hugo Keenan; Doris, McCloskey and Dillane make impressive carries, Doris has a second go, Chris Farrell puts his hand up for work. Japan, however, defend well and after 11 phases, Carbery opts to kick again.
Despite retaining possession, Ireland lose 40 metres and the Japanese recover the ball, winning that mini-battle.
8 minutes TRY IRELAND (CHRIS FARRELL)
8 minutes – Ireland 7-3 Japan
Now that was impressive, some superb handling and carrying from Ireland, the ball moving swiftly through the hands, Ronan Kelleher, Doris, Stuart McCloskey, Ultan Dillane and Finlay Bealham and Gibson-Park all involved, Farrell crashing over from a short distance, but the key to the score, was the pace of the attack, and the quality of the tip-on passes, mixed with the variety of the attack – Gibson-Park making a break infield to keep the Japanese guessing. Carbery adds the conversion.
10 minutes – penalty to Japan and Yu Tamura kicks to the corner.
11 minutes – TRY JAPAN (Leitch) Ireland 7-10 Japan
Ireland had defended that restart sloppily, leading to the favourable field position and from the line-out, they score. Their set-piece was excellent there, Leitch finishing off the move. Tamura adds the conversion.
14 minutes -
Great pressure from Japan; Semisi Masirewa makes a superb catch over Keenan’s head; Ryoto Nakamura makes a brilliant run thereafter, Stuart McCloskey is pinged for offside and the Japanese are opting to go for the lineout rather than the posts.
18 minutes TRY JAPAN (Timothy Lafaele)
TMO checking the legality. It may be wiped out for a forward pass.
Try ruled out.
Right, let’s breathe. That 16-phase movement was incredible, Japan playing with verve and pace, the offloads mixed with clever lines of running, ultimately leading to Timothy Lafaele, the centre getting across. However, Naoto Saito had been identified for making a forward pass earlier in the move. Ireland survive. They’re in a game here, though. At the minute, Japan have the edge.
23 minutes - an unforced error from Kelleher eases the pressure on Japan that Ireland had gradually built; the hooker misdirecting his throw at the Japan five-metre line, Japan escaping unpunished. A minute later, Carbery runs into Doris and the Japanese are awarded a scrum. Ireland look rusty, Japan organised.
25 minutes – Jordan Larmour’s kick goes dead. Ireland struggling to find any rhythm. .
26 MINUTES TRY IRELAND (MCCLOSKEY)
28 minutes – Ireland 12-10 Japan
This was heads-up rugby at its best. Joey Carbery kicks ahead, recovers possession and suddenly the play opens up for Ireland, McCloskey, Peter O’Mahony and Hugo Keenan stretching the Japan defence to breaking point, McCloskey making good decisions twice in that move – first by passing when he should have, secondly by knowing he had the strength to make the line when the ball returned to his hands. Carbery misses the conversion.
29 minutes - Dillane fails to claim a Tamura restart for a second time in this match; Ireland subsequently concede their sixth penalty of the game, and Tamura is lining up a kick at goal.
30 minutes – Tamura’s kick bounces off the post. Ireland still lead, 12-10 – and Shane Daly has just come in to replace Larmour.
33 minutes James Ryan knocks on. Scrum, Japan. Grubber from Tamura ends in touch, line-out to Ireland.
34 minutes – Ryan gets up after receiving treatment. Fit to carry on.
35 minutes – TRY JAPAN (Timothy Lafaele)
TMO checks the original decision and it is confirmed, Tamura lining up the conversion now.
36 minutes – Ireland 12-17 Japan (Tamura conversion)
There was great quality in that Japanese try, not just in terms of Timothy Lafaele’s lines of running and finishing instinct but also thanks to Siosaia Fifita’s handling, in terms of how he collected a crossfield kick and then offloaded to Lafaele.
38 minutes – just when it looked like Ireland would bounce back with a score, Kotaro Matsushima makes a crucial interception. Ireland counter attack, but Stockdale’s pass goes forward.
40 minutes – Joey Carbery held up over the line after great play from Dillane, Farrell and Carbery, too. Ireland looked good in that passage of play – Kelleher’s lineout was accurate, the maul was effective. Ireland going for a tap and go.
40 minutes TRY IRELAND (Bealham) Ireland 17-17 Japan
HALF-TIME Ireland 19-17 Japan
Ireland 19-17 Japan
Well, that was a breathless first-half. While Ireland played sloppily – forward passes, knock-ons, misdirected throws at the line-out – and yet they lead. Their powerful carries are getting them go-forward ball, Carbery’s probing and kicking game is troubling the Japanese, Peter O’Mahony is making a noticeable contribution and the tries have been well finished.
The final one of the half, by Bealham, was from a tap-and-go, Bealham the third carrier in the move. McCloskey’s earlier try was excellent, too.
That’s the good stuff. The bad is lengthy. Ireland have coughed up cheap possession from Japanese restarts; they have been caught cold by some blistering Japanese attacking and only for a disallowed Timothy Lafaele try, they’d be behind.
Here is the Bealham try.
Ireland sneak back ahead at half-time as the forwards pour over from close range, Finlay Bealham the try-scorer #IREvJPN #rterugby pic.twitter.com/ydyQ4BwdjH
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) July 3, 2021
This is the Timothy Lafaele try.
Japan back in front after a brilliantly executed try, Fifita and Lafaele combining, with the latter finishing in the corner #IREvJPN #rterugby pic.twitter.com/eVquUG8S85
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) July 3, 2021
Here is McCloskey’s try.
Stuart McCloskey grounds the ball in the corner to restore Ireland's lead after Joey Carbery's chip and Peter O'Mahony's offload #IREvJPN #rterugby pic.twitter.com/sVTNEemMiH
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) July 3, 2021
This is the Leitch try.
Japan hit back swiftly, Michael Leitch grounding the ball to put the visitors back in front #IREvJPN #rterugby pic.twitter.com/6JIx2tutXj
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) July 3, 2021
Centre Chris Farrell gives Ireland the lead but Japan soon hit back... #IREvJPN #rterugby pic.twitter.com/aZfxM32qWY
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 3, 2021
Ireland really need to get their restart work sorted.
— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) July 3, 2021
Dillane has lost two of them now, massive access points for Japan.
Second half about to kick off.
41 minutes That was a better restart from Ireland, O’Mahony with the take. Caelan Doris subsequently delivers a forward pass.
43 minutes – Chris Farrell is injured. He put in a big hit on Ryoto Nakamura. By the looks of things, his game is about to end. Billy Burns set to come on
43 minutes So Burns is on; Farrell is sitting up, thankfully, so while he won’t play any further part in this game, the fact he is able to walk safely from the pitch is a massive positive.
43 MINUTES TRY JAPAN (Siosaia Fifita) Ireland 19-22 Japan
44 minutes Ireland 19-24 Japan (Tamura conversion)
Tamura’s little grubber kick off dissects the Ireland defence and Siosaia Fifita reacts quickest to collect and touch down. Tamura then converts.
Ridiculous from Japan!
— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) July 3, 2021
Absolutely sensational kick.
47 minutes What started promisingly, ended in disappointment as Caelan Doris’ attempted offload ended in Naoto Saito’s hands. The earlier set-piece, Ryan collecting at the front, Dillane, Kelleher and then McCloskey adding hands to the move appeared to have put Ireland into a good position. Ireland, in the end, were lucky to get away with a sloppy pass.
48 minutes TRY IRELAND (JOSH VAN DER FLIER)
48 minutes Ireland 24-24 Japan
A fine Ireland try, O’Mahony collecting in the line-out, van der Flier finishing it, showing great confidence and upper body strength to get across but the try owed so much to Gibson-Park’s dynamic burst from the base of the ruck.
49 minutes Ireland 26-24 Japan (Carbery conversion)
Tamura puts through a lovely grubber kick, Fifita running onto and grounding to put Japan back in front #IREvJPN #rterugby pic.twitter.com/zMMr2PkZ8o
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) July 3, 2021
51 minutes Joey Carbery is also getting treatment at the moment.
Would be great to see Gavin Coombes on for Ireland soon.
— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) July 3, 2021
25 minutes of frontline Test experience would be huge for him.
53 minutes – TRY IRELAND (Stockdale) Ireland 33-24 Japan
Kotaro Matsushima goes off injured; Burns sends a kick into the Japan 22. Chance for Ireland and a try for Ireland; Kelleher’s line out is good, O’Mahony gives quick ball, carries from the hooker, then Dillane, then McCloskey, followed by van der Flier and smart passing from Gibson-Park – who is a much better player than is generally assumed – leads to Stockdale scoring to become the joint-sixth highest scorer in Irish international rugby.
56 minutes TRY JAPAN (Naoto Saito) Ireland 33-31 Japan
After some structured attacking – a nice way of saying some boring play - Naoto Saito finishes off a brilliant Japan counter attack.
Semisi Masirewa was the creator of that score, although the supporting line ran by Saito was something else.
58 minutes – So John Ryan and Ed Byrne have come on.
59 minutes Ireland win a penalty after an infringement from Shane Gates; good play by Hugo Keenan to set it up.
Ryan Baird has come on for Dillane.
60 minutes Another penalty awarded to Ireland, and James Ryan tells Carbery to go for the posts. Nice tip on pass from van der Flier to set up Ireland’s attack prior to that penalty.
62 minutes (PENALTY IRELAND, Carbery) Ireland 36-31 Japan
Japan are right back in it thanks to a wonderful breakaway try finished off by Naoto Saito from 40 metres out. The conversion is made and it's Ireland 33-31 Japan. #IREvJPN #rterugby pic.twitter.com/cU1vrkratV
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) July 3, 2021
Ireland stretch their lead as Jacob Stockdale scores the 19th try on his international career. Ireland 33-24 Japan #IREvJPN #rterugby pic.twitter.com/md9DVHHpzf
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) July 3, 2021
Ireland go direct and Van der Flier dives over the line to draw the hosts level before the convertion gives them a 26-24 lead. #IREvJPN #rterugby pic.twitter.com/BvCRA9kGG8
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) July 3, 2021
64 minutes While some of Ireland’s work has been sloppy today, some of Josh van der Flier’s and Peter O’Mahony’s has been exceptional.
A stat has just appeared; Ireland have missed 19 tackles in this game. Way too many.
67 minutes Seconds after Yu Tamura and Naoto Saito are subbed off for Japan, Ireland get another penalty, Kelleher and van der Flier winning a breakdown penalty.
68 minutes PENALTY IRELAND (Carbery) Ireland 39-31 Japan
70 minutes Japan are beginning to tire, it seems. Ireland dictating events a lot more than they did in the first half. Van der Flier excelling, Gavin Coombes coming on for his debut.
73 minutes Some fine play by Ryan Baird, who must be the fastest second-row in the world. Japan’s fatigue beginning to show. Result looks safe for Ireland, who finally, are in control of this game.
Joey Carbery kicks a penalty to make it a two score game with just over 10 minutes to go. Ireland 39-31 Japan. #IREvJPN #RTERugby pic.twitter.com/Rhzj1LHUQ5
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) July 3, 2021
75 minutes That was like watching some bad rugby league; Japan trying to keep the ball alive but Ireland’s defence was top notch. Their organisation and line speed was exceptional.
Josh van der Flier has been named player of the match. Fully deserved.
78 minutes Fine carry from Ryan Baird after Doris had won some quality ball off the line-out. Burns’ crossfield kick was a little overcooked. Craig Casey gets 90 seconds …. up, 90 seconds just to try and do something.
FULL-TIME IRELAND 39-31 JAPAN
Ireland 39-31 Japan
At times Japan were outstanding, thrillingly creative, and it looked as though an upset was a possibility in that first half. However, Ireland’s game management was much better in the second half and with Josh van der Flier having an exceptional game, they gained control of proceedings. In the end, the eight-point winning margin was justified but many aspects of the performance lacked precision.
