​NEWCASTLE, Australia (AP) — Ireland grabbed a bonus point in a hard-fought 36-20 victory over Japan on Saturday, securing back-to-back wins to begin the Nations Championship after their dramatic 33-31 comeback triumph against Australia. Their next assignment is a trip to New Zealand to face the All Blacks, who opened with a 34-32 win over France and followed with a 47-17 triumph against Italy on Saturday.
“Very happy with two from two,” Ireland captain Tadhg Beirne said. “The target is three from three, so we’ve got a big challenge ahead of us in New Zealand next week at Eden Park. We’re going to have to step up our performance for sure.”
Japan now heads to Tokyo to meet France, which had a late rally for a 42-26 victory over Australia earlier Saturday in Brisbane.
Ireland coach Andy Farrell made nine changes to the starting lineup after the Australia match, giving four players a Test debut on neutral ground in Newcastle, north of Sydney. The early rhythm was disrupted by a Japan side coming off a 27-10 win over Italy the previous week, as Japan pressed Ireland from the outset.
Taira Main crossed for a third-minute try and Takuro Matsunaga converted to give Japan a 7-0 lead, but Ireland responded with a Nick Timoney try converted by Ciaran Frawley to level matters. Matsunaga then added a penalty for a 10-7 Japan advantage, only for prop Tom O’Toole to score his first Ireland try moments later, restoring a two-point lead for the visitors. Matsunaga’s next penalty made it 13-12 to Japan, but Robbie Henshaw crossed for Ireland after sustained pressure by the forwards, and Frawley’s conversion gave Ireland a 19-13 halftime edge.
No. 8 Sean Jansen celebrated his Test debut with a try in the 51st minute to secure the competition bonus point and push Ireland ahead to 26-13. Japan again cut into the margin when Hayate Era surged over and Matsunaga converted to make it six points with more than a half hour to play.
This forced replacement fly-half Harry Byrne to land a necessary penalty in the 71st minute, stretching the lead beyond a single converted try. Replacement hooker Tom Stewart finished it off with a late try after the final whistle sounded, sealing the final score at 36-20.
“We had to fight hard for that one, we had to stick in it,” Beirne said. “Japan kept coming at us, coming at us but we held on well. We got a nice try at the end there to make the score look a little bit more comfortable than it was. We’re going to have to build on that and be better again next week.”
As for Japan, they head to Tokyo to face France, a side that had already shown resilience in Brisbane. Ireland’s coach Farrell had stressed the need for adaptability and depth after a grueling schedule, and the matchup against New Zealand presents another formidable test as they chase a clean start to the campaign.