Ireland women's first-ever summer tour has begun with resounding success after a 57-22 defeat of Japan, at the Ecopa Stadium in Shizuoka.
The win was littered with a handful of glorious tries from Ireland, as they weathered an early Japanese onslaught.
While TG4 lost their live signal, Japan got off to a superb start, scoring two early tries as they powered over from close range before left winger Komachi Imakugi dotted down for their second.
A further penalty gave the hosts a 15-0 lead after just 16 minutes, before hooker Neve Jones got the first of her three tries when she went over after a powerful driving maul from Ireland.
Just five minutes later Ireland produced the try of the match through winger Aoife Doyle. Ireland launched a set-piece move off a scrum, with Enya Breen slicing through the Japanese defence with a clever dummy, and a couple of passes later Doyle dotted down to finish off an immensely satisfying training ground move.
Ireland v Japan
23 nóiméad
🇮🇪 Éire - 12
🇯🇵 An tSeapáin - 15
Críochnaíonn Aoife Doyle úd eile do na hÉireannaigh, níl eatarthu ach trí phointe!
Ireland go wide from the scrum and set up Doyle to finish in the corner.@IrishRugby #NothingLikeIt #IrishRugby
BEO/LIVE ar @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/yYStbI0xxj— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) August 20, 2022
Ireland completed the first-half turnaround on the stroke of half-time when Aoife Dalton broke through the Japanese line to give Ireland their first lead of the match. Outhalf Dannah O'Brien added the extras as Ireland went into the break with a 19-15 lead.
Ireland then put the game out of reach in 12 dominant second-half minutes. Neeve Jones completed her hat-trick with two more carbon copy tries off the back of powerful rolling mauls.
Debutant Méabh Deely scored another cracker for Ireland when a superb pass from Enya Breen sent her coursing through the Japanese defence on the halfway line. The fullback showed impressive pace to finish off the move, and a difficult conversion from O'Brien made it 38-15.
58 nóiméad #JPNvIRE
🇮🇪 Éire - 38
🇯🇵 An tSeapáin - 15
Téann na hÉireannaigh amach an líne go Deely agus an bhearna aimsithe aici.
Meabh Deely shows her pace and scores another debutant try for Ireland.@IrishRugby #NothingLikeIt #IrishRugby
BEO/LIVE ar @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/mvC8RdeqXH— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) August 20, 2022
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Japan went over for a consolation score soon after, before substitute Chloe Pearse showed nice control with her feet for a try of her own, after charging down a defensive clearance.
Another brilliant score came from substitute Molly Scuffil-McCabe, when she picked off the back of a ruck from 40 metres out, shrugging off would be tacklers to finish a fine solo score.
Ireland finished the game strongly as sub hooker Emma Hooban went over from close range on 80 minutes. O'Brien added the extras, finishing the game with a record of five kicks from eight attempts.
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