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.