Ireland 39 Japan 31: Ireland player ratings

15 Hugo Keenan

He was excellent in all aspects of the game, covering, tackling, his aerial work while in possession he made more clean breaks and beat more defenders than any of his teammates. He ran some great lines too. Rating: 8

14 Jordan Larmour

He conceded a penalty for not releasing after Ireland's first try in attempting to rescue a dropped restart. Nice feet a couple of times, one kick that travelled a bit far, before injury ended his afternoon on the half hour. Rating: 5

13 Chris Farrell

His power was very effective in contact as he demonstrated for his try and on one or two other occasions while he was accurate in the tackle until getting his head on the wrong side early in the second-half which ended his game. Rating: 6

12 Stuart McCloskey

He needed to use a little more footwork at times but gave his team so many positive gainlines in a powerful carrying display. He was involved a couple of times in the build-up to his try, while caught out as the pillar defender for Japan's third one. Rating: 6

Ireland have every reason to be wary of Japan this time

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11 Jacob Stockdale

He was very much on the periphery initially and in his first real opportunity tried an offload when he should have kept the ball and gone to ground. He kept his width intelligently for his try. Rating: 6

10 Joey Carbery

It was a fitful performance from a player who looks a little off Test match pace as he makes his way back from injury. Restarts drifted a little far at times and some loose kicking from hand, which on one occasion led to a Japan try but his place-kicking was good. Rating: 5

9 Jamison Gibson-Park

His kicking was spot-on, one aberration aside, quick and sharp to the breakdown, very sharp around the fringes; this paid a dividend in the seminal break for the Josh van der Flier try while he displayed good vision and technique for the Jacob Stockdale try. Rating: 7

1 Dave Kilcoyne

The game passed him by a little in terms of the traditional virtues that he brings, namely his carrying and while he was diligent and solid he will have wanted to do a little more. Rating: 5

2 Rónan Kelleher

Lineout throwing remains an issue, not altogether his fault in some instances but crooked and underthrown can be traced to him. Excellent as always in the loose but has to elevate the levels of that primary duty. Rating: 6

3 Finlay Bealham

Good aggression in the tackle and in clearing out at the breakdown while he displayed power and a keen awareness for his try. The scrum went well and he can be pleased with his all round performance. Rating: 7

4 Ultan Dillane

There could be no faulting his work ethic and application but two fumbles at restarts under minimal pressure relatively speaking proved to be costly errors. A couple of good carries but he'll have wanted to do better. Rating: 5

5 James Ryan (capt)

He gave away a lineout penalty for an arm pull in the lineout and fumbled in contact in starting like a player who had an injury issue in the build-up to the game. He grew into the game, worked tirelessly especially in defence and was effective out of touch. Rating: 6

6 Peter O’Mahony

Took responsibility for restarts and discharged duty superbly, won penalty turnovers, great power and offload in the build up to Stuart McCloskey's try and a regular option out of touch, all in a typically hardworking performance. Rating: 7

7 Josh van der Flier

Relentless in his tackling, but for him Japan would have broken the line on more occasions. He bailed out some of his teammates with his industry in defence, while his carrying was superb, aggressive, direct and coming onto the ball at pace; Ireland's best player. Rating: 8

8 Caelan Doris

A couple of wayward passes aside, he again demonstrated the value of footwork in contact, good peripheral vision and the handling skills to maximise those skills. Carried effectively and with energy. Rating: 7

Replacements

The replacements added energy at a time when Ireland were flagging a little and with the game delicately poised, Ryan Baird particularly conspicuous while Gavin Coombes will have enjoyed a few positive moments on his debut. Rating: 7

Coach

Andy Farrell will be reasonably pleased with the performance from a scratch side. There were plenty of glitches on which to work but considering the injury disruptions during the match and a Japanese side that really put it up to Ireland with the quality of their attack, this ultimately was a good win. Rating: 7