Japan side prove no match for Ireland

RUGBY: The Ireland team's disappointment following their defeat by Argentina last Saturday was set aside yesterday as they comprehensively defeated Japan 52-13 at Newbury in the Under-21 World Cup seeding place play-off game.

Ireland crossed for eight tries, six of which were converted.

Lansdowne flanker Niall Ronan had another outstanding game, weighing in with a hat-trick of touchdowns before going off the field seven minutes before the end of the game.

Centre Barry Murphy scored Ireland's first try in the sixth minute, following a number of Irish attacks in the Japanese 22 immediately after the kick-off.

Japan did come back with a penalty in the 15th minute, after some fine play, with backs and forwards combining well.

Ireland had to concede 10 metres on halfway when they tried to prevent Japan taking a quick tap-penalty.

Japan then made a sortie up the right touchline and then back into midfield before Ireland infringed again and outhalf Naoya Nomura kicked the straight-forward penalty.

Japan, however, didn't score again until the 63rd minute, when, after a good break by substitute scrumhalf Hiroshi Toyoyama, who had only come on just a minute before, centre Katoni Otsukolo raced in for a try.

And the pair did a copycat act 12 minutes later for Otsukolo to get his second try.

Nomura hit the post with the first conversion attempt, however, his second was more successful and was the last score of the game.

In between Japan's penalty and their first try, Ireland were having a field day and only brave tackling kept the men in green from scoring even more than they did.

Ireland were just 12-3 ahead at the break with prop Eugene McGovern getting his side's second try on 22 minutes, with David McAllister putting the conversion over.

And, in the second half, Ireland ran in another six tries.

Three came within eight minutes of the restart through centre Nicholas McClelland, wing John Hearty and lock Simon Crawford, who finished off a comprehensive move.

Then came Ronan's three tries between the 50th and 61st minutes. McAllister added five conversions.

Ireland will now meet Italy or Canada at Henley RFC on Sunday to decide the seeding places nine and 10.

IRELAND: 15 Bowe; 14 Lane, 13 Murphy, 12 McCelland, 11 Hearty; 10 McAllister, 9 C O'Loughlin; 1 McGovern, 2 Corrigan, 3 Danagher, 4 Crawford, 5 O'Connor, 6 Muldoon (capt), 7 Ronan, 8 McCornish. Replacements: Fitzpatrick, Moran, McComb, Gannon, Geraghty, Rainey, Telford.

Referee: Antonio Lombardi.