Japan’s need for speed if Ireland are to be unsettled

The Japanese camp is nothing if not forthright. While attack coach Tony Brown yesterday warned Ireland there is more to his side’s game than just speed, wing Lomano Lemeki was openly talking about targeting Johnny Sexton’s quad muscle.

The chances of Ireland’s first-choice fly-half starting against Japan were always going to be slim once Sexton missed Tuesday’s training session following the knock which ended his role as a goal-kicker midway through the opening half against Scotland.