Blossoms blown away by Ireland’s power game

By EDWARD O’BRIAN

IRELANDsigned off from their summer tour with a comprehensive five-try victory in Tokyo.

Scores from Garry Ringrose, Josh van der Flier, Kieran Marmion and Rhys Ruddock had Ireland cruising 28-8 at the break, with Sean Reidy barging over for a late try at the death.

Japan responded with tries from Kotaro Matsushima and Akihito Yamada and three points from the boot of fly-half Jumpei Ogura in a muchimproved display.

But it still wasn’t enough to overcome a youthful Irish side who, despite having 11 regulars in New Zealand with the British and Irish Lions, made it three from three after wins over the USA and Japan in the past two weeks.

“Having spoken to the players, that was very, very tough going,” said head coach Joe Schmidt. “The Japanese defence came very quick off the line, very effective in the tackle and made the day very hard work.

“It was very hot out there. The players were fatiguing early in the game, so it was great to get a good start and hang on at the finish.”

Ireland made the perfect start when Ringrose seized on Amanaki Mafi’s wayward pass in midfield and raced away from 50 metres out to register the first try of the afternoon.

Japan’s line-speed and aggression in defence was noticeably improved from their 50-22 defeat to the Irish last weekend but Ireland’s power game and quick recycling was again proving too much to cope with for the Brave Blossoms.

Van der Flier crossed for the Irish second try and, even if Ogura got Japan on the board with a penalty, they led 21-3 after 17 minutes when Marmion barged over.

TEAMS

JAPAN: Noguchi (Yamanaka 68); Yamada, Matsushima, Tamura, Fukuoka; Ogura (Matsuda 40), Nagare (Tanaka 53); Ishihara (Inagake 49), Niwai (Horie 40), Asahara (Watanabe 40); Thompson, Helu (Yatabe 64); Leitch, Mafi, Matsushashi (Tokunaga 68)

IRELAND: Conway; Earls (O’Halloran 55), Ringrose (R Scannell 79), Marshall, Stockdale; Jackson, Marmion (Cooney 73); Healy (Kilcoyne 61), Tracy (N Scannell 51), Ryan (A Porter 61); Treadwell (Ryan 51), Toner; Ruddock (Reidy 55-61), Conan, Van der Flier (Reidy 68)

REFEREE: JP Doyle (RFU)

ATTENDANCE: 29,354

Star man

Josh van der Flier – Ireland

The hosts came back into the contest thanks to a try in the corner from Matsushima on the back of some powerful carries in midfield.

That proved to be a temporary respite however as Ireland charged back and captain Ruddock went over to score their fourth try in the 31st minute.

Paddy Jackson slotted his fourth conversion in as many attempts and the Irish had a 20-point lead at the break.

Japan struck first in the second half as flying wing Yamada crossed in the corner to cut Ireland’s lead to 28-13.

Both sides emptied their benches on the hour mark as the heat and humidity began to take its toll and that was the end of the Japanese comeback, with Ireland having the last word through replacement flanker Reidy.