Test Match No.361: 2021 European Tour: 1st match

日本語 Photo
6 November 2021: G: Aviva Stadium (Ireland); R: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
●Japan 5-60 Ireland○
 
Data:
6/11/2021, Challenge Tour 2021
Japan 5 – 60 Ireland
Aviva Stadium , Ireland
Half-time 0 - 29
Refree: Nika Amashukeli (GEO)
Crowd: 34,500
 
JAPAN: 15 Kotaro Matsushima, 14 Dylan Riley , 13 Timothy Lafaele (23 Ryohei Yamanaka 68), 12 Ryoto Nakamura, 11 Siosaia Fifita, 10 Yu Tamura (22 Rikiya Matsuda 56), 9 Yutaka Nagare (21 Naoto Saito 56), 8 Kazuki Himeno, 7 Pieter Labuschagne (capt), 6 Ben Gunter (19 Yoshitaka Tokunaga 27), (20 Tevita Tatafu 59), 5 James Moore, 4 Jack Cornelsen, 3 Jiwon Koo (18 Asaeli Ai Valu 41), 2 Atsushi Sakate (16 Yusuke Niwai 64), 1 Keita Inagaki (17 Craig Millar 41).
Reserves:
HIA: Timothy Lafaele (23 Ryohei Yamanaka 39), 12 Ryoto Nakamura (23 Ryohei Yamanaka 56)
Coach: Jamie Joseph.
Tries: Siosaia Fifita; Conversions:; Penalty Goals:
Yellow Cards: Atsushi Sakate (43, sin-bin)( In 16 Yusuke Niwai, Out 10 Yu Tamura)
 
Ireland: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Bundee Aki (23 Keith Earls 63), 11 James Lowe, 10 Johnny Sexton (Capt) (22 Joey Carbery 60), 9 Jamison Gibson Park (21 Conor Murray 56), 8 Jack Conan, 7 Josh van der Flier (20 Peter OMahony 49) , 6 Caelan Doris , 5 James Ryan, 4 Tadhg Beirne (19 Iain Henderson 56), 3 Tadhg Furlong (18 Finlay Bealham 53), 2 Ronan Kelleher (16 Dan Sheehan 53), 1 Andrew Porter (17 Cian Healy 53).
Reserves:
Coach: Andy Farrell
Tries: James Lowe, Andrew Conway (3), Jamison Gibson Park, Johnny Sexton, Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose, Cian Healy; Conversions: Johnny Sexton (4),Joey Carbery (2); Penalty Goals: Johnny Sexton
Yellow Cards:
 
Scoring sequence (Japan’s score shown first): 4min-try Ireland, James Lowe-0-5; conv. Johnny Sexton -0-7, 11min- try Ireland, Andrew Conway-0-12; conv. Johnny Sexton-0-14, 19min- try Ireland, Andrew Conway-0-19; conv. Johnny Sexton (missed)-0-19, 24min-pg Ireland, Johnny Sexton-0-22, 34min- try Ireland, Jamison Gibson Park-0-27; conv. Johnny Sexton (missed)-0-29, 49min-try Ireland, Johnny Sexton-0-34; conv. Johnny Sexton-0-36, 55min-try Ireland, Bundee Aki-0-41; conv. Johnny Sexton (missed)-0-41, 57min-try Japan, Siosaia Fifita-5-41; conv. Rikiya Matsuda (missed)-5-41, 70min- try Ireland, Garry Ringrose-5-46; conv. Johnny Sexton-5-48, 75min- try Ireland, Andrew Conway-5-53; conv. Joey Carbery (missed)-5-53, 82min- try Ireland, Cian Healy-5-58; conv. Joey Carbery-5-60,
 


The Brave Blossoms beat Ireland in the 2019 World Cup for the first time in their career history. Despite a defeat in July 2021, they also did quite a good job with a score of 39-31. Many people were optimistic for this test match, having expectations that Japan could win this time or it would be a good match even though they were defeated. Surprisingly, the Ireland National Team completely concealed their traditional strategy. Before they had used power plays based on FWs and attacks with kicks to gain phases. But in this match, they thoroughly developed their attacking tactics with FWs and BKs working together. They formed a strong attack scheme propelled by their SO, Sexton, who controlled BKs with pick-off plays while their FWs were very active using off-load passes. Their attacks were so skilled and strong, even though Japan pushed hard with tenacious tackles, the lone remaining player cruised down the line to score successfully.
In the 4th minute and the 11th minute in the first half, both Irish WTBs, Lowe (No. 11) and Conway (No. 14), got tries without being marked by any Japanese defender while Sexton converted easily and successfully, making the score 14-0. Up until this point, there existed an atmosphere that Japan still could gain some momentum by attacking. It just did not happen because Ireland continued their attacking waves, with tries made by Conway in the 19th minute, Gibson in the 34th minute, along with Sexton’s successful PG in the 24th minute. When the first half ended, Ireland had a large lead with a score of 29-0.
The second half started with powerful tackles by Japan. But in the 9th minute, Sexton who got the 100th cap for Ireland made a record-breaking try and converted, making the score 36-0. After this Bundee Aki, No. 12, made a try. With the score now 41-0, Japan turned to offensive right after a kick-off. Yamanaka fed a long pass to Matsuda around the 22-m line in the Irish zone, while Himeno rushed forward toward the Irish end line. He passed the ball to Fifita who was waiting on the left side and made a try, making the score 41-5. Everybody thought that Japan had gained some momentum and started to control the game. But Japan failed to take advantage of their chances because of hard-working Irish defenders and their own mistakes. Furthermore, Japan allowed Ringrose, No. 13, to make a try in the 30th minute and another try made by Conway in the 35th minute. The score became 53-5. Including Conway’s three tries, all of Irish BKs made tries. This fact shows how expansive the Irish strategy was.
The final try Japan allowed was in the 42nd minute, which was made by Irish FW, Healy, along with a successful conversion. The score at the end of the game was 60-5. This game shows that strong countries like Ireland have started studying and analyzing Japan. They failed to gain any momentum to try and control the game. Additionally, we cannot overlook their mistakes related to basic skills. They failed to secure the ball during line-outs, while PKs, and touch kicks in the run of the game were not very skillful. The Brave Blossoms have to get back to the basics before facing Portugal and Scotland.