Ireland Open With Six-try Win Over Japan To Give Them Hope Of Making Last Eight

The protector of nan defending champions, New Zealand, looms complete Pool C and connected that ground Ireland could not spend to lose. They kicked disconnected their World Cup run pinch a fluent victory, successful which each constituent of their crippled functioned good connected nan immaculate Franklin’s Gardens pitch.

Japan won nan erstwhile lucifer betwixt these two, a 29-10 triumph successful 2022, and had they upset nan likelihood it would hardly person represented their ain Miracle of Brighton from nan men’s World Cup successful 2015. But Ireland are a different proposition nether Scott Bemand and their physicality and accuracy, for nan astir part, was conscionable excessively overmuch for their consenting opponents. Japan were outclassed and overpowered, successful truth, but 2 converted tries gave their awesome supporters thing to outcry about.

Some rock-solid maul defence first up showed Japan would not beryllium intimidated, but nan Ireland helping Amee-Leigh Costigan was soon flying complete successful nan area aft powerfully handing disconnected nan Japan helping Komachi Imakugi. Neve Jones scored a well-taken 2nd from a powerful maul, Dannah O’Brien kicking nan 2nd of six conversions, and Ireland had begun pinch precision and power.

Even erstwhile nan basics specified arsenic lineout and scrum are moving well, decison-making must beryllium on-point, demonstrated by Costigan arsenic she timed a walk perfectly for her sevens workfellow Beibhinn Parsons connected nan right. Parsons raced to nan area for a beautifully orchestrated score, albeit 1 aided by Imakugi rushing retired of nan protect line. Such was Costigan’s organisation she was first location to celebrate, too.

Haruka Hirotsu crossed for Japan, getting them connected nan committee aft 29 minutes – contempt a superb try-saving tackle by Stacey Flood earlier successful nan move – but Fiona Tuite added Ireland’s 4th 3 minutes earlier half-time.

Eve Higgins dives complete for Ireland’s 5th effort aft catching a sloppy Japan walk and moving 80 metres to move defence into attack. Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA

Japan came retired successful wished temper and erstwhile nan No 6 Masami Kawamura pushed complete connected 43 minutes, it seemed for illustration Ireland’s defence mightiness wilt successful nan Northamptonshire heat. Five minutes later, though, came nan eventual momentum-shifter. Japan had passed their measurement almost nether nan Ireland posts, bringing nan crowd to their feet pinch an audacious ambush connected nan left.

But a sloppy walk was snatched by Eve Higgins, showing superb anticipation and vision. The inside-centre jinked distant and galloped 80 metres to dive nether nan Japanese posts. The conversion made it a 21-point crippled astatine 35-14, alternatively of Japan pulling to wrong seven.

Ireland had a punishment effort disallowed, for a maul infringement by Sam Monaghan, but they stayed successful nan ascendancy, and replacement Enya Breen added a sixth try. Linda Djougang, nan prop, was sent to nan sin-bin connected 69 minutes but it mattered little.

A quarter-final against France looks astir apt for Ireland but if they support improving, they will springiness nan Black Ferns a superior trial connected nan southbound seashore connected 7 September. Spain are up adjacent for Bemand’s side, adjacent play present successful Northampton, earlier they tin hole successful earnest for New Zealand. On this grounds it mightiness conscionable beryllium their ain occurrence of Brighton.