Overview
- Ireland beat Japan 36-20 in Newcastle on Saturday, July 11, to claim a bonus-point victory and register 10 points from their first two Nations Championship games.
- Sean Jansen marked his Test debut with a try and was named player of the match after powerful carries and physical work that helped Ireland reach the four-try bonus.
- Coach Andy Farrell made nine changes and handed four players their first caps, giving fringe squad members useful match minutes but producing periods of poor cohesion.
- Persistent set-piece faults hurt Ireland all game, with repeated crooked lineout throws and multiple scrum penalties conceded while Japan capitalised and hooker Hayate Era received a late yellow card for repeated infringements.
- The result keeps Ireland top of their pool and raises selection and tactical questions ahead of Eden Park, where they will need to tighten lineout throwing and scrum defence against New Zealand.