Seven-try Ireland beat Japan 43-19 in Cork Test match

Ireland scored seven tries to beat Japan 43-19 in a Test match at Virgin Media Park in Cork on Saturday, sealing consecutive wins over the same opponents. Scott Bemand's side had defeated Japan in a WXV Global Series encounter in Galway the previous weekend.

Ireland conceded an early score but crossed the whitewash four times in the first half to lead 22-7 at the interval; Alana McInerney and Sophie Barrett both scored on their debuts after coming off the bench. The hosts had begun their autumn series with a 40-36 defeat by the USA at Tallaght Stadium before recovering to beat Japan 31-24 in Galway.

The match's opening phase featured a high penalty count from both teams and an early Japan try when Sakurako Korai barged over from close range after five minutes. An Emily Lane effort was ruled out for an infringement in the build-up, and Eilis Cahill then powered over after Ireland worked the ball through the phases, with Dannah O'Brien converting to level the scores.

Masami Kawamura was sin-binned for holding up an attack and Ireland capitalised on their numerical advantage when Brittany Hogan rumbled over, following her double try-scoring appearance last week. Continued pressure produced two further first-half touchdowns: Neve Jones crashed over following enterprising play and a maul, and Anna McGann stretched to ground the ball after a Niamh Gallagher break and an Erin King pass.

Two minutes into the second half Beibhinn Parsons rode a tackle to score and, with O'Brien adding the conversion, extended her all-time record of Ireland tries to 25. Japan fought back through Nami Asari, who scored for the second week in a row, and Nijiho Nagata, who crashed over from a maul to reduce the deficit to 10, before Maiko Nishi was yellow-carded for head-to-head contact on King.

After coming off the bench Alana McInerney shrugged off attempted tackles and dived over beside the upright, and late in the game fellow debutant Sophie Barrett collected and crossed for Ireland's seventh try. Enya Breen's conversion left 24 points between the teams at the final whistle.

Scoring summary — Ireland tries: Eilis Cahill, Brittany Hogan, Neve Jones, Anna McGann, Beibhinn Parsons, Alana McInerney, Sophie Barrett; conversions: Dannah O'Brien 2, Enya Breen 2. Japan tries: Sakurako Korai, Nami Asari, Nijiho Nagata; conversions: Maiko Nishi 2.

Ireland: Niamh Gallagher; Beibhinn Parsons; Anna McGann, Aoife Dalton; Robyn O'Connor; Dannah O'Brien, Emily Lane; Linda Djougang, Neve Jones, Eilis Cahill; Jane Clohessy, Fiona Tuite-O'Sullivan; Brittany Hogan, Erin King, Jemima Adams Verling. Replacements: Beth Buttimer, Sadhbh McGrath, Sophie Barrett, Kate Jordan, Grace Moore, Aoibheann Reilly, Enya Breen, Alana McInerney.

Japan: Maiko Nishi; Haruka Hirotsu, Uta Kataoka, Mana Furuta, Komachi Imakugi; Sawa Harada, Moe Tsukui (capt); Hinata Komaki, Moe Nagaoka, Wako Kitano; Masami Kawamura, Yuna Sato; Nami Asari, Sakurako Korai, Jennifer Nduka. Replacements: Nijiho Nagata, Nami Yoshida, Juka Fuji, Saya Nakamura, Otoka Yoshimura, Mio Nishimura, Suzuka Nakashima, Kanna Hayashi.

The victory sends Ireland to a two-match WXV series against South Africa, providing momentum as they prepare for that next fixture.