Andy Farrell didn't get response he wanted from Ireland against Japan

The Ireland head coach eventually saw what he wanted from his bench

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell at the Quilter Nations Series 2025 match between Ireland and Japan at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Andy Farrell asked for a reaction from his players following their defeat to New Zealand in Chicago but he did not get it as Ireland needed a bench-inspired second-half shift in gear to see off Japan in Dublin on Saturday.

A much-changed Ireland side from the one which started against the 26-13 loss to the All Blacks at Soldier Field largely failed to take their chance on an afternoon off for many of the head coach’s first-choice players. The final scoreboard showed a 41-10 defeat of Eddie Jones’s Brave Blossoms but the margin of victory was a long time coming as Ireland stuttered to a 17-10 half-time lead.

Jack Crowley had opened the scoring with a sixth-minute penalty and the fly-half then finished and converted a well-constructed try on 19 minutes after Japan had gone down to 14 men following a yellow card to centre Charlie Lawrence for a tip tackle on debutant Ireland centre Tom Farrell.

Flanker Nick Timoney claimed a second for the home side on the half-hour, again converted by Crowley yet with Irish lineout problems continuing after a poor outing in Chicago, Ireland could not add further to their 17-0 lead and Japan closed the gap before the break with a maul try from hooker Kenji Sato, fly-half Seungsin Lee adding the conversion and a penalty while Ireland lost wing Jacob Stockdale to a yellow card.

Despite starting the second half a man short, Ireland did extend their lead through Andrew Porter, while the final quarter saw further tries from replacement front-rowers Gus McCarthy and Paddy McCarthy, a week on from his Test debut, before wing and player of the match Tommy O’Brien grabbed a sixth for Farrell’s side three minutes time, replacement fly-half Sam Prendergast kicking his second conversion of the afternoon.

All of which begged the question of the head coach, was the response he wanted following the All Blacks’ loss.

“In short, no, certainly not in the first half,” Farrell said. “But the response that we wanted from half-time onwards I thought was pleasing enough, because I think when you make a good few errors within your game, it can suppress you a little bit.

“We were feeling sorry for ourselves a little bit and the mood wasn't how it should be, but how we got over ourselves and got some tempo back into the game in the second half is credit to the lads. I suppose creating a few more opportunities as well, but not finishing them off with the last pass etc, is something else that obviously needs cleaning up, but making the inroads in the first place is pleasing enough.

“I suppose overall, if you look at where we were, not just scoreboard-wise, but how we were playing in the first half, to come away with 41-10, you'd think you should be pleased, pleasing aspects, but we've got to be better obviously with the opposition that's coming.” 

Ireland will need to be much, much better when Andy Farrell resumes his rivalry with his predecessor Joe Schmidt next Saturday as Australia visit Aviva Stadium for the second of three Quilter Nations Series home Tests this month. And he will be looking for a similar impact from his bench to the one he got against Japan. 

Ireland’s Gus McCarthy in action against Japan. Pic ©INPHO/Gary Carr

Sam Prendergast replaced Crowley on 51 minutes alongside his brother, Cian Prendergast and fellow back-rower Jack Conan, with starting flanker switching to lock. The introductions of hooker Gus McCarthy and loosehead prop Paddy McCarthy also brought punch to Ireland’s carrying and the overall effect was an increased temp and set-piece stability, particularly to remedy those first-half lineout woes.

The Ireland boss praised the overall uplift in performance levels following half-time.

“And not just the bench, everyone else. Again, that's the pleasing part of the game. They got over themselves and made good inroads into the game, but the bench certainly helped that, especially a couple of young lads.

“I thought Gus was great as far as his intent set-piece-wise and how he went about his business. He's a young lad trying to find his way at international level, so that's pleasing.

Paddy, his first home game and his second Test, two pick-and-gos in quick succession and scoring the tries, pleasing. And then time in the saddle for (starting tighthead prop) Tom Clarkson and obviously the performance of Tommy O'Brien getting man of the match. He's certainly well-deserved here.

“It wasn't the perfect game as far as errors are concerned or whatever, but he had proper intention in his game. He wanted to make things happen and you can see the hunger in that.” 

Ireland’s celebrations were tempered by concern for starting full-back Jamie Osborne, who dislocated a shoulder while for head coach Farrell there was frustration that some of his players did not fully take the chances offered to them by selection.

“I know and what do you do?” Farrell said. “You 100 per cent have to roll the dice a little bit to give people opportunities and find their feet and compete.

“It's very easy to pick your best 23 or whatever but that wouldn't serve us any good down the line. Over the course of two games most people have had a shot at it now and we need to get over ourselves a little bit and start knuckling down for what's coming ahead because obviously the opposition gets bigger and stronger.”