Japan player ratings vs Ireland | Nations Championship 2026

Japan player ratings: While Ireland ultimately emerged with a 36-20 bonus-point victory to remain top of the Northern Hemisphere pool, Japan played a major role in making life uncomfortable for Andy Farrell’s side.

They exposed familiar Irish set-piece issues, won the scrum battle for long stretches and stayed firmly in the contest until the closing stages before Tom Stewart’s late try added some gloss to the scoreline.

1. Takato Okabe – 8
Part of a Japanese front-row unit that gave Ireland far more grief than anyone expected. Consistently got after Tom O’Toole at scrum time and helped lay the platform for Japanese dominance in that area. A hugely physical shift before departing late on.

2. Mamoru Harada – 6.5
Worked tirelessly until his withdrawal after 47 minutes. Did plenty of unseen graft around the field and helped ensure Japan stayed in the fight physically. Not quite as influential as some of his pack colleagues but solid enough.

3. Shuhei Takeuchi – 8
Had O’Toole and the Irish scrum under severe pressure from the outset. Eddie Jones’ prediction about scrum superiority did not look remotely fanciful judging by this display. One of Japan’s most effective forwards before being replaced.

4. Harry Hockings – 6.5
The former Australia U20 lock tackled himself into the ground. His tally of 17 tackles only tells part of the story as he repeatedly threw himself into collisions. A hard-working display built on industry rather than flash.

5. Warner Dearns – 9
Took Ireland’s lineout apart virtually single-handedly. The towering second row was an absolute menace in the air and repeatedly disrupted Irish ball. It felt like every time Ireland went to the lineout, Dearns was involved. A colossal performance and comfortably Japan’s standout player, his tackle and carrying count also right up there.

6. Ben Gunter – 8
Another forward who tackled his face off throughout the contest. Finished with 16 tackles and was never far away from the action. His work-rate and brutish frame helped Japan remain competitive despite Ireland’s greater depth and scored two big turnovers.

7. Kanji Shimokawa – 5.5
Busy around the breakdown and put in a decent defensive shift before making way just after the interval. Didn’t produce many headline moments but quietly got through plenty of work.

8. Jack Cornelsen – 7
Produced a mammoth defensive effort, racking up 20 tackles as he emptied the tank for the cause. The sort of industrious display that coaches absolutely love. Carried hard and defended even harder.

9. Naoto Saito – 6.5
Kept the tempo ticking over and generally moved the ball well as Japan looked to stretch Ireland whenever possible. Not spectacular but showed good game management and energy.

10. Ryunosuke Ito – 6
A mixed afternoon from the fly-half. There were moments when Japan’s attack looked sharp under his guidance, but he also let Ireland off the hook at times through his kicking game. Still, he played his part in keeping the visitors under pressure.

11. Taira Main – 7.5
A stunning solo try inside the opening minutes immediately put Ireland on the back foot. His finish was top drawer and showcased exactly what Japan can do when given space. Errors elsewhere in his game stop the score climbing even higher, but that try alone was worth the admission fee.

12. Yuya Hirose – 4
A relatively quiet outing before injury forced him from the field during the first half. Didn’t have enough power to deal with Ireland’s midfield and went off injured shortly after a big Stuart McCloskey carry.

13. Dylan Riley – 5.5
Something of a curate’s egg. Beat three defenders with some typically sharp footwork and looked dangerous ball in hand. The flip side was a defensive display that featured four missed tackles. Plenty of good and plenty of frustration.

14. Kazuma Ueda – 6
Didn’t see a huge amount of ball but worked hard defensively and chased diligently throughout. One of several Japanese backs who suffered from Ireland dominating territory after half-time.

15. Takuro Matsunaga – 6.5
Landed two penalties and two conversions to keep Japan firmly in touch on the scoreboard. However, three errors with ball in hand hurt his overall contribution at key stages. A steady rather than spectacular outing from the full-back.

Replacements – 7
The bench made a genuine impact and played a significant role in ensuring Japan remained competitive. Hooker Hayate Era deserves particular mention after battling over for a deserved try on 58 minutes, even if his evening ended with a late yellow card. Michael Leitch brought his customary edge and experience, while Sojiro Otsuka and Keijiro Tamefusa helped maintain scrum pressure after entering the contest. Sam Greene had some lively moments after replacing Riley but also contributed to Japan’s error count.