What a difference a game makes. Ireland's 27-3 win over Scotland in Yokohama suggests they are now back towards their best for the first time since November 2018. Indeed, in his column from Japan this morning, Gerry Thornley writes: "Welcome back Ireland. " Sunday's victory was built on the performance of the Irish pack, who blew Scotland away in the opening stages and operated a faultless set-piece throughout, winning all 22 of their scrums and penalties. When they're in that sort of mood, they're difficult to live with. He writes: "As they showed in 2018, these Irish forwards are a match for any other pack in the world. At its hub was the Iain Henderson-James Ryan combination. Both are young, mobile, dynamic, modern day locks and ever since Ryan burst onto the Test scene, one always felt this could be one of the truly great Irish secondrow partnerships." Steering the Irish pack was Conor Murray, who looks to be his old self again after a difficult 2018-19 campaign which saw him sidelined with a neck injury: "The sight of Murray at his imperious best was so reassuring. It was a reminder that you wouldn't swap him for any other scrumhalf in the world."
Meanwhile Keith Duggan was with the Japan team in Hamamatsu yesterday, as they set about plotting Ireland's downfall ahead of Saturday's Pool A clash in Shizuoka. And the Brave Blossoms are well aware that Joe Schmidt's side might already have one eye on the quarter-finals, where it looks like a clash with the Springboks awaits. Tongan-born Uwe Helu said: "I think they will look down on us, that's for sure. And we'll do everything when we get our chance. From my point of view, we need to work as a team. Don't go one on one. To make sure we topple them, go with someone. Don't give them those chances." However in the Irish camp, Cian Healy insists his side are embracing the chance to meet the host nation this weekend, as they look to build on the Scotland win: "It's a great opportunity. The style of play they have and the players they have is very exciting so it's something we're going to look hard at during the week and plan for and then when it gets to it, just embrace it and enjoy the game and enjoy the atmosphere because it's a host nation, home crowd, a lot of Irish here as well so I'd say it should be good craic of a game."
Elsewhere Wales got their tournament off to a strong start yesterday, as they blew away a gutsy Georgia side in Toyota City, Warren Gatland's side running out impressive 43-14 winners. Any fears the Grand Slam winners would be affected by last week's departure of assistant Rob Howley were quickly put to bed as they flew out of the blocks, with Jonathan Davies crossing after just three minutes. They went on to score six tries, despite some stiff Georgian resilience in the second-half. Gavin Cummiskey reports: "Paint Gatland as the clown at your peril. Lions tours may be his forte but he would love nothing more than to transfer the excruciating, lingering pain of 2011 into a glorious exit following the long decade as Wales coach. Concerns about how his team would cope in the aftermath of their very own Saipan were quelled here." Today there is one fixture, with Ireland's Pool A rivals Russia and Samoa meeting in Kumagaya (kick-off 11.15am). You can follow the action through the Irish Times liveblog.
Away from Japan and in his column this morning Kevin McStay reflects on the past season and makes a number of suggestions on how the GAA can improve football as a spectacle - including offering referees more assistance, clamping down on diving and banning outfield players from passing back to the goalkeeper. He writes: "A handful of reasonable people in a room would sort out about 70 per cent of what I'm talking about. I have a couple of pints after work on a Monday with friends and when we talk about this sort of stuff they'd say, 'sure that would be easy to fix if only they did this . . .' But we never 'only' do it!"
And Dundalk are Premier Division champions for a fifth time in six years, after Vinny Perth's side beat Shamrock Rovers 3-2 at Oriel Park last night to take an unassailable 15-point lead at the top of the table.
