Land of the rising stun rising stun
Hosts pull off another shock as Irish admit: We knew it would be tough
Japan 19 Ireland 12
FOUR years on from beating South Africa in Brighton, the Brave Blossoms woke their nation up to the tournament taking place on home soil by beating the world’s No.2 team.
Some justified gripes about the refereeing of Angus Gardner aside, Ireland must point to themselves and take the blame as another sorry episode in their disappointing tournament history was written.
In the end, besieged Ireland took the one losing point on offer and will hope it it is enough to secure a top-two finish.
With Japan to play Scotland in their final pool game, there is still some way to go yet. “Potentially, bonus points could be really important,” said coach Joe Schmidt.
He confirmed that Jack Conan would be returning home tomorrow after suffering a foot fracture in training on Thursday, with Jordi Murphy expected to fly out in his place.
“Keeping that bonus point allowed us to stay in front of Samoa in the short-term and we know that Scotland will be a player and Russia will line us up in five days time,” added Schmidt.
“Those tight turnarounds are pretty tough going and we will have to chase a little bit now because we want to stay within a chance of topping the pool.
“We knew that Japan were going to be incredibly tough and so it proved.”
There was no denying Japan were worthy winners, though Ireland looked to have their measure in the opening quarter.
After 20 minutes out-half Jack Carty, in his second Test start, was looking like a candidate for man of the match as Ireland had scored two tries and looked in control. But that was as good as it got. Going into the game at second in the world rankings and slumping to fourth by the end, Ireland failed to score over the final hour.
The game plan – to boss the set-piece and play for territory – was abandoned. Ireland’s pack made fewer metres carrying combined than one back – Garry Ringrose – combined.
Rory Best, making his 100th Test start, had another bad throwing day at the office. Last week’s man of the match CJ Stander was anonymous.
After the fireworks had subsided and the rapturous home crowd had left the Ecopa Stadium, jubilant Japan supremo Jamie Joseph admitted this fixture was targeted by the hosts from a long, long time out.
Ireland were well and truly ambushed and how they respond now is everything.
South Africa responded to their opening defeat to New Zealand by running in nine tries in a 57-3 drubbing of Namibia in Pool B.