Ireland opened their Autumn Series with a 41 to 10 victory over Japan, but the final score masked a performance full of structural cracks. For 50 minutes, Ireland laboured rather than controlled, surviving more on moments than momentum as a misfiring line out repeatedly strangled their ability to build pressure. Possession came with effort and exit strategies lacked conviction, allowing Japan to stay in the contest far longer than the scoreline ultimately reflected.
Japan, under Eddie Jones, arrived with punch and purpose. They stretched Ireland in the wide channels, disrupted the set piece and forced the kind of defensive scrambling that better teams will look to weaponise in November. While physically outmatched at scrum time, their intent at the line out and breakdown repeatedly put Ireland under stress, exposing a soft centre in what should have been a statement performance.
The match swung not with a change in approach but a change in personnel. The introduction of Gus McCarthy did more than steady the line out; it offered proof of concept that Ireland’s issues were not unsolvable, but they were glaring. Once the platform stabilised, Ireland finally found tempo, rhythm, and eventually points. It left a game of two halves, one uncomfortable, one controlled, and a 41-point total that simultaneously reassured the casual viewer and unsettled anyone scanning for detail.
Here is how Ireland rated.
1. Andrew Porter — 7.5
Dominant at scrum time and disruptive around the breakdown, highlighted by a 38th-minute charge down. His 47th-minute try injected urgency into Ireland’s attack. Leader-like in bursts, but his spike in involvement also showed how few carriers Ireland had initially.
2. Ronan Kelleher — 3
Struggled with his core role at the set piece as Ireland’s lineout continued to malfunction. The problem is systemic, but execution is now an unavoidable concern. A difficult outing at a pivotal moment for depth chart clarity ahead of two big tests against the Wallabies and Springboks.
3. Thomas Clarkson — 6
Rock solid at scrum time and showed encouraging mobility to recover defensively after being beaten wide in the 12th minute. His 19th-minute line break to assist Henshaw was one of Ireland’s sharpest attacking moments. A performance that will earn more selection consideration, given Bealham brought very little from the bench and the two players’ age profiles.
4. James Ryan — 4
A quiet afternoon, with one offload in the build-up to Crowley’s try, the lone notable contribution. Lineout disruption in his zone proved costly, and his usual physical imprint was absent. Certainly below his standard influence level, which perhaps highlights just how important the injured Joe McCarthy is to the Irish game.
5. Tadhg Beirne — 5
Front and centre in a lineout that spluttered early before improving once Ireland simplified their plan. Worked tirelessly but rarely shifted momentum with a definitive moment. Busy without being impactful, which will frustrate him a week on from his red card disappointment in Chicago.
6. Ryan Baird — 6.5
Physically imposing in the wide channels and disruptive in flashes. His ceiling is visibly high, but the performance still lacked sustained influence. His big carrying moments were encouraging, but again, there were periods in the match where he went missing or had an unnecessary error.
7. Nick Timoney — 5.5
Delivered the perfectly timed support line to score Ireland’s second try in the 29th minute just as play was breaking down. Outside of that moment, his involvement was intermittent, although he did make 13 tackles and was a willing carrier.
8. Caelan Doris — 8.5
Outstanding at the collision point, consistently bending the line and linking play with clarity. Instrumental in two tries, including the loop line to create Porter’s score, the captain appears to be hitting his straps following a long injury lay-off. The stats back up the eye test, Doris made 12 carries, 22 tackles and won 2 turnovers.
9. Craig Casey — 7
Sharp service under pressure and intelligent box kicking gave Ireland stability in spells. Unfortunately for the Munster scrumhalf, his pack brutally misfired at line-out time, which denied him any opportunities to launch strike players. When his side did get rolling, his ability to dictate the tempo was exceptional.
10. Jack Crowley — 7
Opened with intent, scored Ireland’s first try, and connected naturally with Osborne as a dual playmaking threat. Two late kicking errors knock the polish off an otherwise assured performance behind a pack that was misfiring. A step forward in responsibility and influence but not quite enough to shut out the conversation between himself and Sam Prendergast over the next fortnight.
11. Jacob Stockdale — 7
Threatened regularly with the ball in hand, but was inconsistent under the high ball and at contact moments. Had a try ruled out for marginal offside and failed to convert one-on-one physical opportunities into dominance. His yellow card was unfortuante give how much taller he is than his opponent, the pace of the incident and the change direction. When he returned to action, Stockdale took things up a notch and did most of his good work. Closing his account 116 meters made most of which came from 2 line-breaks.
12. Robbie Henshaw — 5
Physical, smart, and positionally sharp, none more so than his 35th-minute try-saving intervention. Lacked the explosive breakaway moments of earlier seasons, but offered composure and decision-making when needed. Overall, it was a solid but not particularly inspiring showing, which is concerning for Ireland if Stuart McCloskey does not get fit this week.
13. Tom Farrell — 7
A composed, promising Test debut filled with sharp lines and attacking purpose. Delivered a critical 40th-minute turnover to blunt a Japanese advance. In attack, Farrell’s ability to slip through a halfbreak and get his hands free opened up the Irish attack. Defensively, he is not quite at the level of Garry Ringrose, but there is little doubt at this stage he brings more to the attack.
14. Tommy O’Brien — 8.5
Relentless in work rate and damaging once Ireland’s tempo improved. Defensive positioning wavered at times in the first half when he jammed in a bit too early, exposing his outside. Going up a level in the second-half, the Leinster winger made a handful of searing breaks one of which led to a try for Andrew Porter. Topping the meters made chart with 144 from 13 carries, beating 3 defenders and finishing with a try was a rock solid showing that led to the man of the match award.
15. Jamie Osborne — 8
Effectively operated as Ireland’s second fly-half, expanding width and unlocking space with passing and kicking range. Played with clarity, balance and ambition in the right moments that kept his side on track just when Japan were looking to pounce. His late injury looked nasty and will be a major concern for Ireland over the next fortnight.
Replacements16. Gus McCarthy — 8.5
Changed the set piece, changed Ireland’s fluency, and changed the trajectory of the game. Line-out stability returned, and a 67th-minute maul try validated his impact. A genuine momentum shifter that could well see the 22-year-old displace Ronan Kelleher on the bench for the next two weeks.
17. Paddy McCarthy — 7
Capped his first home match with a 71st-minute try and ensured Ireland lost no physical edge when Porter exited. Reliable and empowering in close quarters, McCarthy has given Farrell a viable alternative to Porter in the final 25 minutes of matches.
18. Finlay Bealham — 4
Stable without commanding moments, functional in limited exposure. No obvious negatives, but no momentum swings either, Bealham will no doubt feel pressure from Clarkson for a spot in the bench going forward.
19. Cian Prendergast — 8.5
Instant defensive disruptor with turnover instincts and collision presence. Shifted the contest physically from the moment he entered with a big strip of a Japanese forward, which sent Ireland haring down the field.
20. Jack Conan — 8
Direct, powerful, and intentional with every carry. Brought clarity to Ireland’s gain line intentions. A timely reminder of his value when Ireland needs ballast and intent. Given Baird’s mixed form and Ireland’s misfiring line-out, Conan could come into the reckoning as the starting blindside or number eight alongside Doris and van der Flier as a punchy carrier.
21. Caolin Blade — 4
A relatively disappointing cameo was disrupted by errors, including a costly 69th-minute forward pass when momentum beckoned. Not reflective of his broader ability, but damaging in context. A day to move past quickly.
22. Sam Prendergast — 7.5
Mixed off the tee but imaginative in attack, including a crisp offload to send O’Brien clear for a try. Landed a high-class touchline conversion to cap his afternoon, which visibly lifted his confidence after a tough six months. There is no doubting his quality when Ireland are rolling forward, as they were when he entered. The questions will come once again when Ireland are losing the gainline battle. One thing is for sure: the Outhalf debate will rage on.
23. Jimmy O’Brien — 5
Brief involvement but lacked precision, including one overhit pass and a dropped chance that should have been gathered. One of the few Irish finishers was unable to find rhythm. Now the clear favourite to start at fullback with Jamie Osborne presumably unavailable for the remainder of this block.
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