ONLY ONE STAND OUT PERFORMER IN IRELAND’S PLAYER RATINGS AFTER LETHARGIC JAPAN WIN

While the scoreline may read that Ireland brushed past Japan with ease, the performance said otherwise.

Littered by issues in the lineout and just a lack of energy in the first half, Ireland only ran away with the game once substitutes for both sides came on.

The win may be a positive after last week’s disappointment in Chicago, but there’s still plenty to work on ahead of two crunch tests against Australia and South Africa.

Ireland Player Ratings after Japan win

Jamie Osborne 7

It’s unclear where he’ll end up, but what’s clear is that Osborne is at the start of a big Test career. Tidy and efficient.

Tommy O’Brien 8Speed is his hallmark, and he showed it here. Tough and strong in defence, but it’s his attacking threat that sets him apart.

Tom Farrell 7

A solid debut, light on defensive duties but he carried well and showed some lovely touches in getting passes away.

Robbie Henshaw 6

Worked well with Farrell and will be pleased to have put in 80 minutes. Japan asked very little of Ireland’s defence.

Jacob Stockdale 6

Harshly yellow-carded, he was denied a try in the second half. Didn’t do enough to put James Lowe under pressure.

Jack Crowley 7

The sort of solid showing he would have wished for, with no chance of him losing his place for the rest of this window.

Craig Casey 7

Sloppy in the build-up to Japan’s try, Casey was overall very good. Should push Gibson-Park hard for a starting place next week.

Andrew Porter 7

Scored the opening try and was comfortable in a powerful Irish scrummaging performance. The big test awaits against the Springbok set-piece.

Ronan Kelleher 6

There was an early line-out miscue but generally Ireland were comfortable. His quality in the loose remains a big asset.

Tom Clarkson 7

Ashis experience grows, his strengths become more apparent, and more of this will ease anxieties about the post-Furlong world.

James Ryan 6

Still doesn’t look the force of old, but Ireland enjoyed complete set-piece dominance here. Crucial to upgrading the line-out performance.

Tadhg Beirne 6

After last week’s misfortune, he must have relished getting back on the grass. He grappled and worked to typical effect.

Ryan Baird 7

Can make the No6 jersey his own by the end of this window. He never stops moving and has the bulk to back it up.

Nick Timoney 7

Deserved his try after a barrelling performance and couldn’t have done much more to show there are back-row options available.

Caelan Doris 8

Excellent from the captain, who looked very much like a man desperate to play as much rugby as he can after injury.

Replacements 8

Ireland were well on top before the subs arrived, but the difference in impact between the two benches only exacerbated the gulf in class. Paddy McCarthy and Cian Prendergast were both all-action, while Jack Conan arrived to maintain Ireland’s physical advantage.

Sam Prendergast looked steadier than last week, but under little pressure. Caoilin Blade was lively, too, but the game was done by the third quarter.

Coach– 7

He rotated and eventually got his reward, but Andy Farrell will only feel the benefit if he acts on what he saw here. Dare he pick Tom Farrell ahead of Bundee Aki as centre cover next week, for example? The rustiness in the first half was a frustration. Bigger judgements await.

2025-11-08T16:31:37Z