'At the time I took it personally': Japan boss Eddie Jones gets a stir out of Ireland newbies

While Sam Illo won’t ever forget his debut, he said he hoped to put himself in the mix to play the All Blacks next week in their season finale.

Ireland players, from left, Billy Bohan, Sean Jansen, Sam Illo and Bryn Ward with their first international caps. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

After coming out the other end of some mental warfare from Eddie Jones, Sam Illo says he’s eager to ensure his debut against Japan is just the start of a long Test career.

Alongside his uncapped Connacht prop partner Billy Bohan, the 25-year-old tight-head came under attack in the build-up to the Nations Championship fixture as Jones went on the offensive.

Looking to get inside Illo’s head, Jones delivered a classic one-liner that became the headline ahead of their crunch Test.

“Particularly in the second half, we expect to dominate the Irish scrum,” said Jones, knowing Andy Farrell was about to name a couple of untried Test front-rowers.

Suffice to say it partially worked.

At their Friday team meeting, Bohan revealed that those words were plastered over the screen.

“We walked in and that was on the screen, the comment he made,” Bohan said. “It was a good challenge. We put the challenge down. Obviously, they put a bit of pressure on, but I think we did pretty well, so I'm proud of all the lads.” 

Illo, 25, was well aware of it, too.

"At the time I took it personally,” Illo said. “That's something you take personally, but afterwards it's just rugby at the end of the day. It's grand."

Illo might say that now, but the rising prop, who really only found his feet over the past 12 months working under Stuart Lancaster, admitted he even sought out Jones to speak to him about the comments following Saturday’s 36-20 win over Japan.

"I actually just spoke to him there about it, I asked him about it,” Illo said.

“I was like, 'Where did that comment come from? Was it a case of you just felt we were inexperienced or...” Before Illo could finish the line, Jones, beaming as always, popped up from behind as he walked into the press conference.

"He just said he backs his lads,” Illo said. Jones added: "I was telling him how much I love him!"

If ever there was a case of all’s fair in loving war, that was it.

Beyond the playful comments though, Illo had a serious job to do when he ran on in the 58th minute with Ireland leading 19-13 just in time for a scrum near the halfway line.

Ireland’s head coach Andy Farrell and Japan's Eddie Jones shake hands. Pic: Ben Brady

Ireland got a lucky reprieve when the first push, which Japan dominated, was blown up, before Illo locked the next scrum down. 

Seconds later, Ireland had their fourth try as the men in green made big inroads after Bundee Aki ate the metres on offer in the fringes and soon after Sean Jansen scored from close range.

"They actually kind of got me in the first one, so I was like, 'Ah here.' So I was like, I need to get reset and then just get down,” Illo recalled.

Asked what he needed to fix immediately, Illo said: "I just realised they were pulling me right on early, so I was like, I need to load back up because they were getting set early.

"They were getting set early, so I went straight on then. I just had to realise I had to put the weight back on to allow myself to get into strong shape."

While Illo managed to make the required adjustment at the time, Japan won a penalty at the next scrum against the feed to continue the ding-dong battle at the set-piece and scored soon after.

Ultimately, it wasn’t enough though as Ireland made the most of their opportunities in the final 20 minutes to secure the win.

Asked to describe his feeling, Illo said it was a “dream come true”.

“It's everything I've always wanted to do – to play for Ireland,” he said.

"I've probably not made it publicly known, but I kept it to myself. I'm just happy with today, especially with the win as well."

Illo said he had a lot of people to thank, including his family and influential coaches along the way like Simon Broughton, Cullie Tucker and Ian Wallace, but he saved his biggest praise for Lancaster.

“There probably was a turning point. I wasn't favoured as much with the previous management, and then Stu took a gamble on me and I felt it paid off,” he said.

“He's pushed me to the max. I can't thank him enough. He's driving me every training session, getting better, getting better. Calling out my weaknesses to make sure I work on them as well. He's just been huge for us. Not just for me, but for all the lads."

On Connacht, he said: “They took a gamble on me, giving me a senior (contract) straight out of the Academy. They really did believe in me. It took a while for me to fully reap the rewards of developing to the player I am now. But I appreciate them."

While Illo won’t ever forget his debut, he said he hoped to put himself in the mix to play the All Blacks next week in their season finale as they hope to end the three-time world champion’s 32-year, 51-Test unbeaten streak at Eden Park.

"I hope to be [in the mix], we'll wait and see,” he said.

"It's huge. Eden Park. I don't think it gets bigger than that for away Test match rugby."