Ireland player ratings vs Japan
This wasn’t meant to happen. Having seen off Scotland with a demolition job in the Yokohama rain, Ireland were supposed to turn up in Shizuoka six days later and give host nation Japan a similar buffeting.
However, that never materialised. Despite initially looking good value for an early 12-3 lead, Ireland were not the team of last weekend and they ultimately paid an embarrassingly heavy price, allowing Japan to rumbustiously hit back and shake up yet World Cup in the process.
What was galling for Ireland is that their set-piece suffered in the closing 10 minutes of the opening half, a momentum swing that helped Japan heap on the pressure that enabled them to close the gap to just three points at the interval.
Ireland failed to stem the tide in the second half and the increasing Japanese intensity in the collision eventually proved too much for them in the humid conditions.
Kenki Fukuoka grabbed the crucial lead-taking try on 59 minutes and despite unloading a bench that was given many plaudits for its energy the previous weekend against Scotland, the Irish had no answers.
(Continue reading below…)
Their surrender was summed up by replacement out-half Joey Carbery kicking the ball into touch at the finish rather than keeping the play alive in the hope of fashioning a result-saving Hail Mary play. Here’s how the beaten Ireland players rated:
ROB KEARNEY – 5
Back fit after missing the Scotland match, he was initially hungry for involvement. Showed his experience in allowing play unfold before pouncing for his 21st minute try. However, his day went downhill from there and he was unable to prevent the last pass getting to Fukuoka to score in the corner. Made two good contributions as Ireland attempted a rescue but it wasn’t enough.
KEITH EARLS – 5
Was the first player used by Jack Carty under the cross-kick but that early chance went begging. Had some positive moments in attack and while there were some missed tackles, he remained defensively alert and protected Ireland’s losing bonus point when mowing down Fukuoka who looked set to score off a Jordan Larmour intercept.
GARRY RINGROSE – 4
Started off like an express and was Ireland’s best attacker early on. Some excellent footwork hinted that he was well up for this and he was rewarded for his poise under the dropping ball to score off a Carty kick on 14 minutes. Demonstrated he had a boot, too, executing a pressure-relieving kick on 27 minutes after Josh van der Flier had scrambled. However, his defence is the frequent weak link in his armoury and it was exposed here under Japanese pressure when it most mattered.
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CHRIS FARRELL – 5
He was Ireland’s busiest defender in the backs and yet couldn’t deliver the same sort of presence that the absent Bundee Aki supplies. Struggled to get over the gain line when carrying and he was gone for Larmour after his team fell into arrears.
JACOB STOCKDALE – 4
Showed alertness just four minutes in to scamper back and snuff out a Japanese kick over the Irish try line. Didn’t have the necessary gas to beat his man on the outside on 21 minutes, but his step inside kept going the move that resulted in Kearney’s score. His inexperience showed in the second half, though, as there was never a sniff at fashioning a rescue chance.
JACK CARTY – 5
Huge day for the Test rookie. Spurned an early three points with an unsuccessful cross-kick to Earls, but he didn’t miss a beat as his two kicks, as well as an aerial handling assist, were pivotal to Ringrose and Kearney scoring tries off penalty advantages. Struggled from there, though. His overcooked halfway restart at 12-9 illustrated how momentum swung against Ireland just before the interval. Then, behind a pack that was losing its cohesion, he was pulled for Carbery after the Japanese try.
Ireland promised after 2015 they would not be caught winging it at the 2019 RWC with an inexperienced out-half starting at No10 in a big match in place of Johnny Sexton, but they have not delivered on that aim https://t.co/Y2QThUAiJW
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 27, 2019
CONOR MURRAY – 4
Gave a masterclass last Sunday but ran into too many blind alleys here. At fault for giving Japan three of their kicks at goal, two of which were converted, including one for offside on 71 minutes that allowed the hosts to push 19-12 clear and heap on the scoreboard pressure. Was too predictable as he looked to pass rather than test the Japanese more around the breakdown by sniping.
CIAN HEALY – 4
The focus of so much pre-match hot air about his scummaging. After a positive start, he was involved in the 36th-minute set-piece penalty concession on Irish ball that further inflamed Japanese hopes that they could win. Offered nothing in the ball-carrying department and was gone early in the second half for Dave Kilcoyne who was unable to up the ante.
RORY BEST – 4
It was his lineout mishap on 31 minutes on halfway that was the first momentum shift in offering Japan a way back into the game. That miss when throwing to Iain Henderson altered the match’s pattern and even when Ireland looked to re-establish themselves in the early parts of the second half, another missed throw on 49 minutes after a penalty was kicked to the 22 highlighted there would be no improvement. Lacked the necessary leadership in a troubled period and was gone on 61 after Japan hit the front.
TADHG FURLONG – 4
Started well along with so many others. There was an encouraging scrum penalty win on 19 minutes, while he also demonstrated he can improvise in the loose with a deft grubber after a Japan knock-on. However, his display declined from there, his effort lacking its usual punch in the collision. At fault for some turnovers as well before swopped for Andrew Porter.
IAIN HENDERSON – 4
Has a loose start before getting up to speed during the middle first-half period where Ireland were in the ascendency. Was the target Best failed to hit at the lineout on 31 minutes which precipitated the build-up of Japanese pressure. Was gone on 66 for Tadhg Beirne who, straight in, ripped the ball from a Japan maul, the sort of impact that Henderson lost his way in trying to achieve.
JAMES RYAN – 6
Carried the fight to Japan amid the crisis that was the 30th to the 40th minute and again after the 50th minute onwards but where he led, he had few too followers. This lack of support was encapsulated in the 65th minute when he was penalised for holding on just metres short of the Japanese posts. One of the rare bright lights on a chastening day.
Kick off in 20 mins time in Shizuoka. 🇯🇵🇮🇪
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— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 28, 2019
PETER O’MAHONY – 5
Led the charge on the defensive side of the first half ball. Was a nuisance at the breakdown, losing, winning and losing penalties in a variety of incidents, the last giving Japan their first three points. However, he could only do so much with the Irish pack eventually losing the collisions. He was pulled for Rhys Ruddock on 55 minutes before Japan hit the front.
JOSH VAN DER FLIER – 4
He remains a bit of an enigma. He will tackle all day for his team – and he did again here – but he doesn’t offer enough of a threat on the other side of the ball. That failing was very noticeable with Ireland needing people to punch holes in the Japanese defence in the final 20 minutes. One dash back towards his own line had been important in tidying up some first-half danger, but he was penalised for not rolling away on 38 minutes which allowed Japan come within three points heading into the interval.
CJ STANDER – 4
Looked as if he had played his final last Sunday in the win over Scotland. Ireland needed him to get over the gain line frequently but the Japanese saw him coming and he was restricted to no more than a 18-metre gain off 10 carries. He looked increasingly unsettled and it was his error, crossing in front of Chris Farrell, which gave Japan the penalty they went on to fashion their try from.
WATCH: What Joe Schmidt and Rory Best said about the Ireland team prior to the match against Japan
Comments on RugbyPass
Beautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to comments