'We were feeling sorry for ourselves'published at 15:10 GMT 8 November 2025
15:10 GMT 8 November 2025
FT: Ireland 41-10 Japan
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell on if he got the response he wanted from Chicago: "In short? No. Certainly not in the first half. But the response we got from half-time onwards was pleasing enough. When you make a good few errors in the game it can suppress you a little bit. We were feeling a bit sorry for ourselves and the mood wasn't what it should be. But we got over ourselves and got some tempo back into the game. We got ourselves back into the game in the second half. We created a few more opportunities but didn't finish it off with the last pass. That's something else that needs cleaning up.
"Overall, if you look at where we were scoreboard wise and how we were playing in the first half, to come away with a 41-10 win you think you should be pleased. There are pleasing aspects, but we have to be better with the opposition that is coming."
'Ireland need to go back to basics'published at 14:58 GMT 8 November 2025
14:58 GMT 8 November 2025
FT: Ireland 41-10 Japan
Tommy Bowe Former Ireland winger on TNT Sport
The message in the team room on Monday morning will be the need to go back to basics, particularly on set-piece.
The positives are that the replacements in the second half really brought energy and positivity and have given Andy Farrell plenty to think about ahead of Australia next week.
Player of the Match Tommy O'Brien speaking to TNT Sport:
"We wanted to put in a better performance for the home crowd. We brought plenty of energy and improved massively in the second half.
We had a few new players out there today and tried to play a fast brand of rugby so that will come with errors. There is plenty to be positive about ahead of Australia next week."
'O'Brien comes out with credit'published at 14:41 GMT 8 November 2025
14:41 GMT 8 November 2025
FT: Ireland 41-10 Japan
Rory Best Former Ireland captain on TNT Sport
Very few starters for Ireland come out with massive credit but Tommy O'Brien is the one with the most. He is my Player of the Match but it was very much the bench who added impetus in the second half.
Get Involvedpublished at 14:38 GMT 8 November 2025
14:38 GMT 8 November 2025
FT: Ireland 41-10 Japan
Ireland are so slow.
Truly looking a fading force... more so than Chicago performance.
Kevin, Leicester
Ireland's handling has been absolutely atrocious in this match.
The Australia game might be tight but South Africa will destroy us if we play like this.
Claire Small Ireland international on BBC Radio Ulster
That was a much better second half and what we wanted to see. Ireland came out all guns blazing and got a few tries on the board. They improved a lot of the things they didn't do well in the first half, the lineout was much better. A lot of good stuff to take from the second half.