Talking points: 'Patchy' Ireland found a way to beat Japan in Galway

Ireland returned to winning ways in the WXV Global Series, rebounding from last week’s defeat to the USA Women’s Eagles in Dublin with a 31-24 victory over Japan in Galway.

With the wind a prominent factor throughout, Ireland played with the breeze in the first half and opened up 19-5 half-time lead.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Japan worked back into the contest after the break, scoring three second half tries when playing with the elements.

However, Aoife Dalton and Ireland’s new record try-scorer Béibhinn Parsons crossed at crucial times, capitalising on Sakura Fifteen errors to ensure the hosts had enough to withstand the comeback.

Here are the afternoon’s talking points…

Ireland continue to struggle

One week on from an upset defeat to the USA, Ireland could have done with a confidence-boosting victory over another side against whom they were heavily-favoured.

While a win was secured, avoiding any sort of losing streak, it’s difficult to say that this performance will satisfy head coach Scott Bemand and his staff.

Even though they lost last week, Ireland’s best moments – particularly in attack – were more impressive than their highlights this time out in Galway. The pace and tempo of their first half play seven days ago was lacking today. Errors and turnovers were a prominent feature.

Japan blitzed the Irish attacking breakdown, forcing Ireland into coughing up 16 turnovers. Ireland also lost the penalty count 16-10 while the home side was less efficient in the 22 than their visitors [2.8 points per entry vs 3.4]. On multiple occasions, Ireland found themselves held up over the line by an impressive Japanese rearguard.

There are, of course, some caveats. Bemand made a number of changes to his XV, with tighthead Eilis Cahill earning her first start while Anna McGann wore the 13 shirt instead of 11, 14 or 23. Beth Buttimer also earned a long-awaited debut off the bench, while there is also the obvious point that any team will be weaker without the injured Aoife Wafer.

The new players did impress – Cahill played a prominent role in Brittany Hogan’s score while also winning a number of scrum penalties – but this was nevertheless an Ireland performance that looked disjointed and lacked cohesion.

A win is never to be taken for granted, particularly one week on from an upset loss. But for a team with ambitions of challenging the England-France duopoly atop the Women’s Six Nations table, this was not a display of the required standard.

Parsons the record-breaker

Béibhinn Parsons deserves plaudits for two reasons. Back in the Ireland XV after missing out last week, a double saw her reach 24 international tries, a new record for Ireland.

Both scores were also examples of Ireland offering rare cutting edge on a day when they often struggled for fluidity with ball in hand.

Parsons’ first effort came via the counter attack, fellow wing Vicky Elmes Kinlan running back a kick before the ball was spread wide. Anna McGann offered herself as the vital link, striding up the pitch before crucially drawing a defender with Parsons outside her.

With only No. 8 Jennifer Nduka between her and the line, Parsons had too much speed, taking her on the outside and comfortably winning the race.

The second score for Ireland’s #14 came with another vital McGann contribution. Scooping a loose ball after a Japanese error in the second half, the centre’s offload was an even better assist than her first, sending a charging Parsons into the clear and atop the Irish try-scoring charts.

Away from the deserved individual accolades, these scores were notable in their genesis. Despite their second half downfall, Ireland looked more impressive in general phase play against the USA than they did this time out. Japan were well able to compete defensively, causing numerous problems at the breakdown when winning multiple penalties.

Ireland needed a different way to break them down, with neither set-piece strikes nor lengthy passages proving effective. Instead, they turned to their transition and counter-attack to both put Parsons into the record books and their visitors to the sword.

Ireland’s discipline and maul woe

Last weekend, the USA scored three tries while Ireland had a player in the bin. The majority of those scores, if not all Eagles tries on the day, originated in a dominant rolling maul.

Seven days on, Ireland conceded twice while Erin King found herself on the naughty step after going off her feet reaching to a Japanese line break. Be it when defending with 14 or 15 on the park, three of the four tries coughed up by Ireland originated from Japan’s maul. Spot the pattern?

There are a number of potential explanations for Ireland’s consistent failings across the last two games. Have they adapted to the new World Rugby law application guidelines for the maul, focusing on players disrupting on the wrong side of the drive? Is it simply more difficult now to defend the maul and plenty of sides will struggle, Ireland among them?

Perhaps it’s worth noting the change of personnel in the Irish camp as well. Alex Codling was the assistant coach previously responsible for the lineout and he was widely praised by players, one referring to him as a ‘Jedi’ such was his expertise. He left the set-up at the end of the Women’s Rugby World Cup last year. He was replaced by Alan O’Connor, the former Ulster second row. Now, it is Neill Alcorn who is double-jobbing as Ulster’s provincial pathway manager.

It should be said at this stage that it wasn’t a blanket struggle in this match. In that first half, Niamh O’Dowd and Fiona Tuite-O’Sullivan disrupted back-to-back Japanese mauls, winning a turnover on one occasion while a Neve Jones infraction unfortunately cost them a second.

Much like Ireland’s display as a whole, there were patches of excellence but disjointed moments never felt far away.