Record set as Ireland beat Japan
REPORT: Ireland bounced back after last week’s dramatic loss to the USA Women’s Eagles as they overcame Japan 31-24 at Galway’s Dexcom Stadium.
The hosts’ forward pack took control of territory, boxing Japan in their own 22.
In the 10th minute, Brittany Hogan went from short range, scoring under the posts and making it easy for Dannah O’Brien to collect two extra points.
With the set piece becoming the main point of contention, Ireland dominated at scrum and worked well from their lineout. Hogan earned a brace with 10 minutes left on the clock, again hitting from short range.
Japan had a glaring chance to narrow the gap when blind-side Nami Asari intercepted a loose pass and sprinted towards the Irish try-area, but Anna McGann rushed back and made a try-saving tackle. To make matters worse for the Sakura Fifteen, Ireland immediately capitalised to score again, now from winger Béibhinn Parsons.
The visitors didn’t leave the first half empty-handed, as hooker Moe Nagaoka struck from a maul to go into the break down 19-5; Erin King was sent to the sin-bin for playing the ball off her feet in the previous play. Looking more refreshed, Japan took advantage of the yellow card and found their second finish, again from Nagaoka, who steered the maul inside the Irish in-goal area.
With Japan five points away from levelling the match, Ireland began to find their rhythm and put pressure on the opposition. During one of these high-pressure moments, Aoife Dalton charged down a kick, scooped up the ball, and sprinted clear to score a magnificent try.
A scrappier period of play followed as both teams struggling for control. However, Japan’s work at the breakdown yielded another turnover, creating an attacking opportunity from a lineout. Five metres out, Nijiho Nagata led the maul to the try line, and Nishi converted the extra points. With the spectre of another dramatic turnaround looming, Ireland had to dig deep to secure victory. Japan made poor use of the ball from a scrum, with Anna McGann producing a moment of brilliance. The centre pounced on a loose ball and offloaded to Parsons, who raced in untouched for her 24th try for Ireland, becoming the country’s all-time leading try-scorer.
The Sakura Fifteen did get a final consolation score, registered by 18-year-old Nami Asari. Following their setback against the USA, Ireland got back on their feet and locked in for their first win of the 2026 WXV Global Series, with Japan also showing an uptick after their match against Italy.
The scorers:
For Ireland:
Tries: Hogan 2, Parsons 2, Dalton
Cons: O’Brien 3
For Japan
Tries: Nagaoka 2, Nagata, Asari
Cons: Nishi 2
Ireland: 15 Stacey Flood, 14 Béibhinn Parsons, 13 Anna McGann, 12 Eve Higgins, 11 Vicky Elmes Kinlan; 10 Dannah O’Brien, 9 Aoibheann Reilly; 8 Jemima Adams Verling, 7 Erin King (captain), 6 Brittany Hogan, 5 Fiona Tuite-O’Sullivan, 4 Dorothy Wall, 3 Eilís Cahill, 2 Neve Jones, 1 Niamh O’Dowd.
Replacements: 16 Beth Buttimer, 17 Sadhbh McGrath, 18 Linda Djougang, 19 Jane Clohessy, 20 Grace Moore, 21 Emily Lane, 22 Aoife Dalton, 23 Niam Gallagher.
Japan: 15 Maiko Nishi, 14 Sora Nishimura, 13 Uta Kataoka, 12 Mana Furuta, 11 Komachi Imakugi, 10 Sawa Harada, 9 Moe Tsukui, 8 Jennifer Nduka, 7 Sakurako Korai, 6 Nami Asari, 5 Yuna Sato, 4 Masami Kawamura, 3 Wako Kitano; 2 Moe Nagaoka, 1 Hinata Komaki.
Replacements: 16 Nijiho Nagata, 17 Nami Yoshida, 18 Juka Fuji, 19 Otoka Yoshimura, 20 Moe Nishimura, 21 Anan Seo, 22 Minori Yamamoto, 23 Mele Yua Havili Kagawa.
Referee: Ella Goldsmith (RA)
Assistant Referees: George Selwood (RFU) and Doriane Constanty (FFR)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)
