Six Nations: Ireland centers shines in pleasurable victory over Japan
Six Nations Ireland's new center partner scored one goal each in an entertaining 39-31 victory over Japan at Dublin's Aviva Stadium.
Six Nations Rugby fans can buy Ireland Six Nations Tickets from our website at discounted prices.
In Ireland's first test match since third in the Guinness Six Nations in 2021, Chris Farrell and Stuart McCloskey whitewashed in the first half and helped tame an extremely creative team.
With some of the British and Irish Lions' regular starters gone, including centers Robbie Henshaw and Bundee Aki, and Garry Ringrose injured, the new-looking midfielder took advantage of this opportunity to shine.
IRELAND’S CENTRES MAKE THE CHANGE
After the Japanese team kicked the penalty early, the Irish team scored the first try of the game via Farrell after nine consecutive passes, creating a breakthrough space for the striker.
Joey Carbery changed his efforts, but Michael Leitch reacted a few minutes later, passing the whitewash from behind the floating hammer.
The Japanese team seemed to be in a dominant position. With 20 minutes approaching, the Japanese team took a 10-7 lead. Good pressure from the Cherry Blossoms almost led to their second attempt in the afternoon.
Timothy Lafaele put in a force shot from Yu Tamura pass and passed through a narrow gap before scoring under the post, but Tamura's pass was judged a forward pass, and the attempt was suspended.
The third attempt in the afternoon finally passed McCloskey. He used Ireland's overlapping advantages to make contact with Jacob Stockdale in the corner and created enough space for him to land.
A failed conversion attempt meant the Ireland striker took a 12-10 lead. After Japan missed a penalty, the hosts appeared to have the ball under control.
Japan will not lie down and magical moments
However, you can never rule out the brave Blossoms. After changing the attack point in midfield, a pass from Tamura created space for Siosaia Fifita, who passed the ball to Lafaele who scored the corner.
Finlay Bealham completed the halftime rugby match and after a series of checkers that followed, the close-fitting props crossed the line from close range.
After the break, Tamura passed the ball to the winger as he ran at full speed on the left. Fifita put in an excellent effort for the Japanese team, then Fifita recovered and passed the whitewash to give the Japanese team the lead again.
The conversion was missed and the situation in Japan worsened when Josh van der Flier made a pass from another short draft pick and after Jamison Gibson-Park made a terrible carry to get Ireland to the try-line.
HOSTS TAKE CONTROL
Stockdale then tried his own attempt. Before countless fierce Irishmen got stuck in the Japanese defense, the winger had plenty of room to score.
Just when it looked like Ireland was finally in control of the game, Japan made it all over again when they flooded the players in the blind zone, resulting in four consecutive releases for Yuya Saito to score.
It was a two-point game until Ireland took the lead 36-31 from a penalty kick, and a new Carbery penalty extended the Irish team's lead to 8 points, with 10 minutes to go.
Caelan Doris said: "It's so special to see fans, especially family and friends, come back. It's been a long time since they could watch at home.
"You can feel the extra energy from the guys here, so even though there are only 3000 people, this is a good starting point, and it’s great to have them back.
"The Japanese team is clearly a strong team. After we score a goal and let them play again, when we look back on some of our mistakes, we will feel frustrated.
"Japan is a good team. They tested us. You can see that in some attempts, they didn't lack anything.
"They have the ability to unload and create something from scratch.
Ticketapt.com is the best platform for Rugby fans can buy Six Nations Rugby Tickets at exclusively discounted prices.