Rugby

Ireland 60 Japan 5: Ireland player ratings

Johnny Watterson rates the Ireland players after a landslide victory opens test window

Bundee Aki celebrates after the game. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho

Johnny Watterson's face
Johnny Watterson
Sat Nov 6 2021 - 15:19

Hugo Keenan: A game for running attacking lines, which he did. Always looking to trigger forward ball and was sound defensively. Rating: 7

Andrew Conway: Terrific under the high ball and took all three tries brilliantly. Rarely plays a bad game but today rightly rewarded. Rating: 9

Garry Ringrose: Cracking first half tackle on Timothy Lafaele. Finally got the opportunity he likes and took it. A pillar in the centre with Aki. Rating: 7

Bundee Aki: Sucking in tacklers in midfield and causing problems. Also involved in Lowe's first try and scored too. Strong showing. Rating: 8

READ MORE

James Lowe: A joy when he's going well. And he went well popping up everywhere doing everything. Got his deserved try too. Rating: 8

Johnny Sexton: A game full of everything from him. Tackled, kicked, ran and finally scored. Reacted well to the pressure of the 100th. Rating: 8

Jamison Gibson-Park: From the off played at a high tempo. Great kick to Conway for his second try and ran a great line to score off Ringrose. Rating: 9

Andrew Porter: A lot of short yardage in heavy traffic. Willingness to carry and stay involved throughout. Good shift. Rating: 7

Ronan Kelleher: Couple of throws long or hard but lineout was good. Tried to find space for trademark pace and kept busy. Rating: 7

Tadhg Furlong: Did what he always does. Caused havoc for the opposition in the loose. Also showed that turn of pace second half. Rating: 8

Tadhg Beirne: The great disrupter in the engine room. Carried well and made his tackles with damage done first half. Rating: 7

James Ryan: He was strong in the lineout and tried to get the rolling maul working. High carry and tackle rate. Never anything but busy. Rating: 7

Caelan Doris: Got through a lot of work tackling and carrying. Occasionally used as a receiver on the angled run. Athletic performance. Rating: 7

Josh van der Flier: Never short of a tough honest game no matter who the opposition. Slowed ball well, although quieter than usual. Rating: 6

Jack Conan: Carried, ran and supported throughout. Has a dynamic spark in his game too. Nice outside pass for Lowe try. Huge work rate. Rating: 9

Andy Farrell: The right team were put out for 60 points and he got the best out of most against weak opposition. You can only play the team on the pitch. Rating: 8

Replacements: Japan was allowed to play more, although emptying the bench is sometimes a disrupter. But Ireland kept forward ball, the pick was Henderson. Rating: 7

Johnny Sexton