Irish sizzle in the sun to roast Japan with 7 tries

IRELAND racked up seven tries to demolish Japan on Saturday in the second of their threematch summer tour.

It was a brutal reality check for the Asian champions as Joe Schmidt’s new-look side produced a clinical performance despite the lingering effects of jet-lag. They had played in the USA last week, and here faced the blazing heat of Shizuoka on the Pacific coast.

With 11 of their usual starting line-up in New Zealand on duty with the Lions, a fresh crop of hungry young players tore into the hosts from the start.

They proved far too good for the home side and were cruising 31-3 at the break thanks to an early try from the outstanding Keith Earls, a brace from flanker Dan Leavy on his first Test start, and a late effort from Jack Conan.

The one-way traffic continued in the second half as Conan, Garry Ringrose and Earls added further tries.

Paddy Jackson had a flawless day with the boot adding 13 points with Rory Scannell kicking a second-half conversion.

Japan replied with second-half tries from full-back Ryuji Noguchi, t wing Kenki Fukuoka and replacement scrum-half Yataka Nagare.

“The conditions were slightly less hot than we thought they were going to be because we were here yesterday for the captain’s run and it was searingly hot,” said Ireland head coach Schmidt.

“So it made for what I thought was a really good game in good conditions.

“On the back of a strong scrum we managed to control a lot of the first half, but you saw how dangerous the Japanese team are when they get time and space on the ball. They were super in the last quarter of the game.”

Earls burst clear to score Ireland’s first try after just ten minutes and, with Heiichiro Ito sinbinned, Leavy barged over twice before Conan also crossed as the tourists had a 31-3 lead at half-time.

The Irish, who thrashed the United States 55-19 in New Jersey last weekend, added further tries through Conan, Ringrose and Earls again after the break.

Japan’s Brave Blossoms, who ground out a 33-21 home win over Romania last week, looked short of ideas in a dress rehearsal for the 2019 World Cup, when they will face the Irish in the pool stage as tournament hosts.

Despite encouraging signs in the second half, a try from Noguchi on the hour and two late consolation tries from Fukuoka and Nagare failed to paper over the cracks.