International
All Blacks overcome brave Japan in Tokyo
Now it’s clear why Japan are called the Brave Blossoms in rugby as they pushed the All Blacks all the way before going down 38-31 margin in an enthralling game in Tokyo.
When Japan lock, and New Zealander, Warner Dearns charged down a ruck clearance by halfback Finlay Christie to regather the ball and run unchallenged to get Japan to 24-28 behind, 65,188 Japanese fans had cause to hope a first win over the All Blacks was on the cards.
Then, when lock Brodie Retallick was red-carded for dangerous play in an attempted cleanout in the 65th minute, they had hope again.
Outstanding openside flanker Kazuki Himeno with three minutes left, lifted hopes again, but New Zealand’s 14 held them out and ended the game with first five-eighths Richie Mo’unga kicking a penalty goal.
What impressed about Japan’s effort was their ability to absorb everything New Zealand threw at them, being forced to make 182 tackles compared to 103 by the All Blacks, while New Zealand won 121 rucks and mauls to 65.
Inspired efforts abounded for the home team as they made the most of the possession they gained. Himeno was ever present in the loose, locks Dearns and Jack Cornelson were athletic and competitive with ball in hand while blindside flanker Michael Leitch contested the loose ball and provided an experienced leadership hand. And in the backs, centre Dylan Reily and left-wing Siosaia Fifita and replacement Gerhard ven der Heever, took chances as they came.
They provided a timely reminder for the All Blacks of the job that lies ahead of them in the remainder of the their tour.
Down 17-21 at the break, New Zealand came out to start the second half at speed, to try to breakdown the Japanese resolve. It was wing Caleb Clarke who ran off a pass from second five-eighths Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to extend the lead. But Japanese defence denied them until they lifted their tempo and power, following Dearns’ try, to hammer the Japan line before No8 Hoskins Sotutu scored.
But then losing Retallick gave Japan another chance to apply the pressure, and it was some determined All Blacks defence, and time, that denied them a famous victory.
It was the first time in five victories over Japan that the All Blacks hadn’t passed the 50 points mark and represented the advance the host team has made.
Typical of Japan’s response was when New Zealand seemed set to pour on the power in the run to halftime, it was Japan who found their second wind and scored two tries in four minutes.
Enjoying a good share of possession throughout the first half, Japan took time to find their continuity, much of the sting in their game being taken out of them by having to contain the All Blacks with their tackling.
Using their set piece to maximise their opportunities during the middle stages of the first half they benefited from the unique skills that last-minute replacement Samisoni Taukei’aho provided, both with his ball play and his lineout throwing.
In New Zealand’s first try, Taukei’aho broke the defence in midfield, drew the final defender and then fed Retallick in for a 25-metre run for the try.
New Zealand missed a chance to score from a five-metre scrum in Japan’s goalmouth when No8 Hoskins Sotutu was turned and unable to present the ball. Moments later, the All Blacks used a similar position to move the ball right, then left and it was Mo’unga who got a ball away to second five-eighths Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and it was centre Braydon Ennor who scored in the 25th minute.
The TMO Marius Jonker felt there might have been a forward pass by Mo’unga but referee Nika Amashukeli said there wasn’t enough evidence to deny the try.
In the 31st minute, Taukei’aho’s pinpoint long throw was taken in midfield by Tuivasa-Scheck and his instant in-pass gave left-wing Sevu Reece space with one man to beat and he rounded him with ease for the third try.
Making more attacking play, the All Blacks lost the ball when Himeno turned the ball over. The ball was played down the right flank and kicked ahead. Perofeta almost pulled off a superb catch but lost the ball forward, and then Ennor couldn’t hold the ball when going down on it.
It was kicked ahead with talented Japan first five-eighths Takuya Yamasawa kicked it ahead, and then gathered the ball to score.
From the restart, Japan worked the ball down the right flank with Leitch making good ground, the ball went through the line with Reilly getting the ball out wide, and then passed inside to halfback Yutaka Nagare who ran in the try.
Scorers: Japan 31 (Takuya Yamasawa, Yutaka Nagare, Warner Dearns, Kazuki Himeno tries; Yamasawa 2 con, pen; Seungsin Lee 2 con) New Zealand 38 (Brodie Retallick, Braydon Ennor, Sevu Reece, Caleb Clarke, Hoskins Sotutu tries; Richie Mo’unga 5 con, pen). HT: 17-21
Content & Images from – New Zealand Rugby
Munster Rugby and the IRFU are pleased to confirm contract extensions for Conor Murray and Jack Daly with Brian Gleeson to be promoted from the Academy to the senior squad next season.
Murray and Daly have signed one-year extensions with Gleeson moving up to the senior squad on a two-year deal.
Gleeson is one of five Academy players moving up to the senior squad next year with Tony Butler, Ethan Coughlan, Mark Donnelly and Edwin Edogbo also signing two-year deals.
Conor Murray is one of the most decorated scrum-halfs in world rugby with 116 Ireland caps and three British & Irish Lions tours to his name.
A former St Munchin’s College student, the Garryowen man won his fifth 6 Nations title with Ireland last month and earned his second league title with Munster last season.
The 34-year-old has made 185 Munster appearances and scored 34 tries for the province to date and was named on World Rugby’s Team of the Decade in 2019.
25-year-old flanker Jack Daly came up through the ranks at Castleisland RFC and made his Munster debut against Zebre in 2020.
Daly joined the Academy in 2018, moved up to the senior squad in 2021 and plays his AIL rugby with Garryowen. A former Ireland U20 international, he made his Champions Cup debut against Toulouse in the quarter-final at the Aviva Stadium in 2022.
Try-scoring number 8 Brian Gleeson leads the charge for the Ireland Under-20s against France ©INPHO/Evan Treacy
20-year-old Gleeson moves up to the senior squad after just one year in the Academy that has seen him score one try in nine senior appearances.
Currently out of action with an ankle injury, he had already made three Champions Cup appearances before turning 20.
The powerful back-row forward was a Grand Slam winner with the Ireland U20s last year. plays his AIL rugby with Garryowen and came up through the ranks at Thurles RFC and Rockwell College.
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Head Coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland Match Day Squad for Saturday’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations clash against Scotland at Aviva Stadium (Kick-off 4.45pm).
Ireland – currently sitting top of the Six Nations table heading into Super Saturday – can clinch back-to-back Championship titles with victory over Scotland in Dublin.
Farrell has named an unchanged starting XV for the Round 5 clash, as Hugo Keenan, Calvin Nash and James Lowe continue in the Ireland back three. Robbie Henshaw and Bundee Aki are once again selected in midfield, with Jack Crowley and Jamison Gibson-Park the starting half-backs.
Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong pack down in the front row, with Joe McCarthy partnering Tadhg Beirne – who is set to win his 50th Test cap for Ireland – in the engine room.
Captain Peter O’Mahony is at blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier is at openside and Caelan Doris completes the starting XV at number eight.
The Ireland Coaching Team have opted for a 5-3 split on the bench, with Rónan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan providing the reinforcements up front, and Conor Murray, Harry Byrne and the fit-again Garry Ringrose the backline options.
Saturday’s match is live on Virgin Media One and ITV, with live radio coverage available on RTE Radio 1.
Ireland Team & Replacements (v Scotland, Guinness Men’s Six Nations, Saturday, March 16, 4.45pm)
15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(39)
14. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(5)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(71)
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(55)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(30)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(13)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(34)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(63)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(25)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(75)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(9)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(49)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(captain)(104)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(61)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(40)
Replacements:
16. Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(30)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(128)
18. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(39)
19. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(19)
20. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(45)
21. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(115)
22. Harry Byrne (UCD/Leinster)(3)
23. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(57).
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Head Coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland Match Day Squad for Saturday’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations clash against England at Twickenham (Kick-off 4.45pm).
Peter O’Mahony captains Ireland for the Round 4 visit to London, with Hugo Keenan returning to the starting XV after recovering from injury.
Keenan joins Calvin Nash and James Lowe in the Ireland back three, with Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw continuing their midfield partnership.
Jack Crowley and Jamison Gibson-Park are retained as the half-back pairing.
In the pack, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong are in the front row, with Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Beirne named in the engine room. Captain O’Mahony is at blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier is at openside and Caelan Doris completes the starting XV at number eight.
The Ireland Coaching Team have selected a 6-2 split on the bench, as Ronan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan provide the reinforcements in the pack.
Backs Conor Murray and Ciaran Frawley complete Ireland’s Match Day 23 to face England.
Saturday’s match is live on RTÉ2 and ITV.
Ireland:
15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(38)
14. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(4)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(70)
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(54)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(29)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(12)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(33)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(62)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(24)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(74)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(8)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(48)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(captain)(103)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(60)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(39)
Replacements:
16. Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(29)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(127)
18. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(38)
19. Iain Henderson (Academy/Ulster)(80)
20. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(18)
21. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(44)
22. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(114)
23. Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(3)
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Munster Rugby Announce Contract Deals For Murray, Daly & Gleeson
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