'It flattered us': Andy Farrell 'relieved' as Ireland secure bonus-point win over Japan

Farrell said that regardless of whether they had won or lost, the fact he broadened the Irish base by handing four players their debuts and got more minutes into several others was the most important thing

RELIEVED: Ireland's Head Coach Andy Farrell during the warm up. Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady.

Andy Farrell admitted he was “relieved” to walk away with a victory against Japan and said Saturday’s 36-20, bonus-point win in the Nations Championship “flattered” his side.

But the respected coach said that regardless of whether they had won or lost, the fact he broadened the Irish base by handing four players their debuts and got more minutes into several others was the most important thing 15 months out from the World Cup.

“I’d say more relieved than anything,” Farrell responded when asked about the five-tries to two victory, which was only sealed in the final ten minutes.

“The scoreline is the scoreline and that’s the reality, but it flattered us probably a little bit, especially with the stop-start nature of the game, with the errors and stuff like that. But I was just saying to the lads, that happens in sport, especially when you tinker a lot.”

That relief Farrell spoke of came after Ireland managed to thwart Japan’s comeback after cutting the deficit to 26-20 when replacement hooker Hayate Era barged his way over to the tryline just before the hour-mark.

But a couple of errors from Japan and a penalty to Harry Byrne in the 70th minute saw Ireland extend their lead beyond a converted try, before hooker Tom Stewart burst onto a lovely ball against a 14-man defensive line to score a second before the final siren to seal the 16-point win.

Despite the set-piece struggles in what was a tough, tough grind, the victory was made all the sweeter after Farrell made nine changes to his starting XV from the one that nudged the Wallabies 33-31 a week earlier.

Farrell also gave out debuts to Sean Jansen, Billy Bohan, Sam Illo and Bryn Ward.

There were also five different tryscorers, with Nick Timoney, Tom O'Toole, Robbie Henshaw, Jansen and Stewart scoring.

It’s why the coach was a content man at full-time, especially having seen New Zealand-born Jansen take the game on by scoring a try, running in the loose and making 14 tough tackles to put himself in the frame to take on the All Blacks next week at Eden Park.

“How Sean Jansen actually attacked the game, as a debutant, it’s a learning for everyone, y’know?” Farrell said.

“To be able to get the man of the match and play as he did first up is a massive credit to him, so that’s great learnings for anyone coming in.

“And then, for the set piece to be under pressure, the scrum, for Sam and Billy to come on and to feel and cope with all that. Some good, some bad, but the learnings that they get from that is absolutely priceless.

“Even Sam and Billy in the carry sometimes – you feel the difference between the URC and international rugby. And they’ll use that. Same for Bryn. They’ll use that and kick on.

“And others having the chance to wear the shirt after a while in positions that they want to play… there’s all sorts of stuff going on there that we can talk about in the future.

“It’s always a risk doing this but a calculated one that’s going to pay for us whether we won or not today. It just so happens that we got a bonus point win and we roll on to a special week next week.”

Veteran Tadhg Beirne, who was leading the side for the first time, didn’t beat around the bush though, saying they let Japan stay in the fight through their inconsistent set-piece, with Ronan Kelleher pinged on a few occasions for not throwing straight or indeed the required five metres.

“We just keep shooting ourselves in the foot a little bit, with indiscipline and allowing them access,” Beirne said.

“Especially in the second half we were camped on our own line and there were some areas in the game, especially around set piece, where we fed their energy and gave them opportunities to continue to attack us.

“But credit to the lads. We fought hard to keep them out and we were still able to get the win.”

Ahead of their season finale against the All Blacks, a Test that Ireland are targeting some history at Eden Park, Ireland’s old guard in the midfield also gave Farrell something to think about, with Robbie Henshaw enjoying a fine performance on both sides of the ball before Bundee Aki came off the bench to eat plenty of metres.

“Bundee has got a bundle of energy coming off the bench, that’s for sure,” Farrell said. “But I thought Robbie Henshaw was great tonight as well. Certainly defensively, he was back to being himself.”

Ireland will fly to Auckland on Sunday evening ahead of next week’s third and final July Test.

They will take on an in-form All Blacks side, who earlier overcame a resilient Italian side in Wellington to run away with the match 47-17.