NPR

Because I felt bad leaving them out ....

Ireland team (vs Japan)
15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 13 caps
14. Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen) 25 caps
13. Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 34 caps
12. Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 31 caps
11. James Lowe (Leinster) 6 caps
10. Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 99 caps (C)
9. Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 10 caps

1. Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 37 caps
2. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 13 caps
3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 49 caps
4. Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 22 caps
5. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 37 caps
6. Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 9 caps
7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 32 caps
8. Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 20 caps

Replacements
16. Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne)
17. Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 109 caps
18. Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 16 caps
19. Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy) 63 caps
20. Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 76 caps
21. Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 89 caps
22. Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 24 caps
23. Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster) 93 caps

Can't c&P as it's a table but full details of Japan squad at https://www.rugby-japan.jp/news/2021/11/04/51023

Hard to put into words just how disappointing that selection is, especially the backline.

The arrogance of the Irish with their own thread

Uncle fester wrote: Thu Nov 04, 2021 4:34 pm Hard to put into words just how disappointing that selection is, especially the backline.

Thread Irished.

Slick wrote: Thu Nov 04, 2021 5:50 pm The arrogance of the Irish with their own thread

Wait till myself and Fishfoodie shit up your thread.

Uncle fester wrote: Thu Nov 04, 2021 6:54 pm

Slick wrote: Thu Nov 04, 2021 5:50 pm The arrogance of the Irish with their own thread

Wait till myself and Fishfoodie shit up your thread.

And you don't even count, as you don't have a green name

19. Tokunaga has my attention. Seems a Japanese name and back five forwards, particularly locks, typically seem to be residency players for Japan. Pretty big if they've found a player to buck that.

Think I'll probably be watching this over the Ita NZ game.

sockwithaticket wrote: Thu Nov 04, 2021 9:26 pm 19. Tokunaga has my attention. Seems a Japanese name and back five forwards, particularly locks, typically seem to be residency players for Japan. Pretty big if they've found a player to buck that.

Tokunaga is listed at 185cm and 100kg, so he is not particularly big for a lock.

Raggs wrote: Sat Nov 06, 2021 9:28 am Think I'll probably be watching this over the Ita NZ game.

One on the tv and one on the laptop.

Probably the match I am most looking forward to today. After Japan had a good training session against the crims they take on Ireland who could well be rusty. Forecast looks reasonable as well.

Kiwias wrote: Sat Nov 06, 2021 9:45 am

Raggs wrote: Sat Nov 06, 2021 9:28 am Think I'll probably be watching this over the Ita NZ game.

One on the tv and one on the laptop.

If the Italy game actually turns out to be exciting I might watch it later. But that's unlikely.

Likewise looking forward to this one

That was a bit easy.

It’s good to see Ireland getting back to their traditional purple kit.

PCPhil wrote: Sat Nov 06, 2021 1:12 pm It’s good to see Ireland getting back to their traditional purple kit.

Only Emperors get to wear Purple

I must be the only one who likes the purple.

Liking the rugby too so far.

salanya wrote: Sat Nov 06, 2021 1:14 pm I must be the only one who likes the purple.

Liking the rugby too so far.

A purple kit can look great (eg Fiorentina). Could do with Japan scoring next to keep it interesting.

My theory that the RWC 2019 would be far from Japan's mean is looking sound.

Ireland are executing well, but they're not having to work very hard tbh.

Ireland are looking very good.

Japan were very unlucky not to make the knockouts in 2015, 2019 wasn't a flash on the pan. Theylook a bit off now and Ireland look really good.

Results between the tournaments weren't up to much.

salanya wrote: Sat Nov 06, 2021 1:14 pm I must be the only one who likes the purple.

Liking the rugby too so far.

We've worn a lot worse. Pack taking Japan to the cleaners.

fishfoodie wrote: Sat Nov 06, 2021 1:13 pm

PCPhil wrote: Sat Nov 06, 2021 1:12 pm It’s good to see Ireland getting back to their traditional purple kit.

Only Emperors get to wear Purple

Confusion between carrying pikes and pikeys?

Assuming this was the better game of the two

That's a paddling.

Pre-game I thought it might be Ireland by 25, but it's been one way traffic.

Ymx wrote: Sat Nov 06, 2021 2:56 pm Assuming this was the better game of the two

Some lovely tries. Though probably a bit too one-sided for neutral fans.

Hard to tell what that means until next week. Attack looked good but ……..

Most of the Irish teams look great when they can run over teams and we've a very decent pack. Trouble is when we get matched (not beaten, just matched) for physicality, we really struggle ball in hand. Not really seeing a whole lot to show that's going to change.

Is this the same Japan team that nearly beat Ireland and Australia in their previous two outings?

average joe wrote: Mon Nov 08, 2021 12:50 pm Is this the same Japan team that nearly beat Ireland and Australia in their previous two outings?

Not quite, but just a poor performance really

Japan, meanwhile, were left questioning where things went wrong, especially in defense. “We were under pressure at the point of contact, and even when we had the ball, we were immediately turned over or gave a penalty away, which is why we didn’t have the ball to attack.,” said vice captain Ryoto Nakamura. “As a game plan, we were talking about trying to attack in an unstructured state by first applying pressure in defense then using the kick. Ireland’s very physical attack was more unexpected than we had prepared for.”

No. 8 Himeno said the result was due to the team’s “preparation and mindset, rather than a difficult opponent.”

“I think we played a really poor match, and I feel so frustrated I feel like I could cry. I think we have to review and work as a team. Ireland attacked well and we just received it, which is one of the reasons why we could not grasp the flow easily.”