'A win is our ultimate goal': Japan react to tight Ireland contest

Japan fell to a 31-24 defeat to Ireland after a hard-fought clash at Dexcom Stadium in Galway.

The Sakura Fifteen showed some relentless attack, held the home side up over the line multiple times, and grounded four strong tries to keep themselves in the contest until the very end.

Toshizumi Kitagawa’s side went into the break down 19-5 after Moe Nagoaka crashed over just shy of half time, but they really stepped up in the second half with the wind on their side.

Nagaoka dotted down once again off the back of a maul, with replacement hooker Nijiho Nagata following suit shortly after for Japan’s third score.

In spite of Béibhinn Parsons becoming Ireland’s leading try scorer and edging Ireland into a more comfortable 31-19 lead with her 24th Test try, the visitors found time for one more score as Nami Asari got over the whitewash on just her third match.

Speaking after full-time, Japan head coach Toshizumi Kitagawa told TG4:

“We didn’t get the result we wanted because this is a Test match and a win is our ultimate goal.

“I’m very pleased at the first half. We were against the wind but defensively we kept going forward and our line speed was really good.

“In the second half with the win, we found really good attacking solution and with that aspect, I’m very pleased.

“I said to the girls [at half time] that I wanted them to trust more of their potential and trust themselves better and stronger.

“Overall, I’m pleased,” he concluded.

Japan will now look ahead to their fixture against Ireland at Virgin Media Park in Cork next Saturday 3 October and there’ll be plenty of positives to build on from their initial meeting in the WXV Global Series.