A big one in Dublin.
Despite a 41-10 scoreline, the Aussies will not be coming to Dublin with too much fear next week.
It was another stuttery performance littered with errors, but in the last 20 minutes, Ireland did look like the team we saw in 2023 and 2024.
Player ratings below.
Andrew Porter – 7
Was part of a hugely dominant scrum and showed his unmatched fitness by going until the 67th minute.
Rónan Kelleher – 5.5
Really put himself about in the tight exchanges, but the lineout was poor once again.
Thomas Clarkson – 7
Helped Ireland muller the Japanese at the scrum.
Chipped in with an impressive 15 tackles.
James Ryan – 6.5
The lineout suffered once again.
Showed nice hands for his offload assist to Nick Timoney.
Tadhg Beirne – 5.5
A quiet day at the office for the talismanic figure.
Needs to put his head together with Paul O’Connell and the other locks and somehow sort out the set-piece before next week.
Ryan Baird – 7.5
Baird’s rise has been the biggest positive, player-wise, for Ireland this November.
He was his side’s go-to man for gain line success and looked good at lineout time as well.
Nick Timoney – 7
One of the few forwards in Ireland who could have finished his try.
Made some eye-catching dominant hits, but, try aside, offered little with ball in hand and only made two carries in the entire match.
Caelan Doris – 7
A typical, wide-ranging performance from the captain.
Lots of carries, two turnovers, and Ireland’s top tackler with 20.
Craig Casey – 7
Did everything that was asked of him, with his speed of pass an absolute joy to watch.
It will be a tight call between himself and Jamison Gibson-Park next week.
Jack Crowley – 7
A good outing.
Showed clever link-up play with Caelan Doris to score Ireland’s first try, and helped create Porter’s score.
Was perfect off the tee as well, but his clearances left a bit to be desired.
Jacob Stockdale – 6.5
Encouraging from the 2018 Six Nations Player of the Tournament.
Got on the end of some good moves, but failed to finish any linebreaks.
Looks like he’ll need another couple of internationals to get back up to full speed.
Robbie Henshaw – 6.5
Was mainly used as a battering ram, and to good effect.
Tom Farrell – 6
Not the first cap he would have hoped for, with a lot of Ireland’s best play passing him by.
Solid, but far from spectacular.
Tommy O’Brien – 7
Saw lots of ball on his wing and was rewarded for his effort with a 75th minute try.
Could work on his one-on-one play.
Jamie Osborne – 6.5
His work in the backfield was exemplary, and had a couple of really slick long passes.
However, he had a very costly kick that went out on the full which eventually led to Japan’s only try.
Replacements:
Gus McCarthy – 7
Paddy McCarthy – 7
Finlay Bealham – 6
Cian Prendergast – 6
Jack Conan – 6
Caolin Blade – 5.5
Sam Prendergast – 7.5
Jimmy O’Brien – 6
