Ireland 39-31 Japan
Date:
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
Attendance: 3,000
Ireland v Japan Match Reports
Ireland beat Japan in a high-scoring and thoroughly entertaining summer Test at the Aviva Stadium. Japan looked dangerous every time they had the ball and the lead changed hands several times during the opening hour. Ireland eventually took control of the match in the final quarter, outscoring the Brave Blossoms 5-4 in tries to record a 39-31 victory. A selection of match reports is listed below:
- Autumn Internationals: Depleted Ireland edge past Japan as fans return to Aviva Stadium
- BBC: Five-try Ireland overcome Japan in thrilling Test
- Daily Mail: Andy Farrell's side shrug off absence of Lions stars to fight back and secure victory over Brave Blossoms at Aviva Stadium
- ESPN: Ireland edge past Japan in free-scoring thriller in Dublin
- RTE: Ireland edge out inspired Japan in thrilling contest
- Irish Independent: Ireland emerge victorious after close battle with Japan at Aviva Stadium
- Irish Times: Ireland eventually get the better of Japan in breathless encounter
Ireland v Japan - Match Highlights
Ireland v Japan - Match Stats
Ireland: (19) 39
Try: Farrell (8'), McCloskey (26'), Bealham (41'+1), van der Flier (49'), Stockdale (52')
Conversion: Carbey (9', 41'+2, 50', 53')
Penalty: Carbey (62', 69')
Japan: (17) 31
Try: Leitch (11'), Lafaele (36'), Fifita (43'), Saito (57')
Conversion: Tamura (12', 37', 45', 58')
Penalty: Tamura (4')
Man of the match: Josh van der Flier (Ireland)
Ireland v Japan - Team Line-ups
Ireland Team
Forwards
- 1 Dave Kilcoyne
- 2 Ronan Kelleher
- 3 Finlay Bealham
- 4 Ultan Dillane
- 5 James Ryan (Captain)
- 6 Peter O’Mahony
- 7 Josh van der Flier
- 8 Caelan Doris
Backs
- 9 Jamison Gibson Park
- 10 Joey Carbery
- 11 Jacob Stockdale
- 12 Stuart McCloskey
- 13 Chris Farrell
- 14 Jordan Larmour
- 15 Hugo Keenan
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 Team
Forwards
- 1 Keita Inagaki
- 2 Atsushi Sakate
- 3 Jiwon Koo
- 4 Wimpie van der Walt
- 5 James Moore
- 6 Michael Leitch (Captain)
- 7 Pieter Labuschagne
- 8 Kazuki Himeno
Backs
- 9 Naoto Saito
- 10 Yu Tamura
- 11 Siosaia Fifita
- 12 Ryoto Nakamura
- 13 Timothy Lafaele
- 14 Semisi Masirewa
- 15 Kotaro Matsushima
Replacements
- 16 Kosuke Horikoshi
- 17 Craig Millar
- 18 Asaeli Ai Valu
- 19 Jack Cornelsen
- 20 Tevita Tatafu
- 21 Kaito Shigeno
- 22 Rikiya Matsuda
- 23 Shane Gates