Andy Farrell reflects on Shizuoka pain as Ireland gain some compensation

Ireland’s Peter O’Mahony claims a high ball in the clash with Japan at the Aviva Stadium. Picture: Gary Carr/Inpho

Shizuoka, September 28, 2019. That was the day Joe Schmidt’s final campaign as Ireland’s most successful head coach unravelled. An early 12-3 lead had followed the pool-opening bonus-point demolition of the Scots and all seemed well in Ireland’s Far East adventure, the travails of earlier that year mere aberrations.

Except Ireland would let this one slip. Their meeting with the tournament hosts turned into a humbling debacle as Japan rose to the occasion, scored a further 16 points without reply, and set the rugby world alight with their power at the gainline and their adventure in attack.