Andy Farrell must move straight to All Blacks, Japan can be unpacked when he gets home
Sneering at Jones—a top-end coach for 40 years—may be considered a rugby pastime, but given the 4-1 penalty count in Japan's favour at scrum-time, had he a point?
Ireland got the Japan job done, posting a Nations Championship win and setting themselves up for a key battle with the All Blacks next Saturday.
It is not necessarily a criticism, but as an exercise in short-term thinking, Andy Farrell got exactly what he wanted from the Brave Blossoms game.
Moreover, his pragmatic approach is not accidental, he believes there is only this game, the next game or at most blocks such as this three-game run, the November four, or the Six Nations.
Essentially, those who made up the nine changes won't have to worry too much about the game review, Farrell won't be giving it a second thought, given he is playing New Zealand in Eden Park.
Nothing happened across the backs to suggest anyone had forced his hand, although he will have noted another excellent performance from the too-often under-valued Jimmy O'Brien.
The talking heads and column inches might want to focus on the No10 slot ahead of next week but it's a 'Donnay-Dee-Yalle', a done deal, Sam Prendergast returns.
The front-row continues to flat-line, and those who tried to dismiss Eddie Jones's assertions that he expected to do well at the scrum were left with egg on their face.
Sneering at Jones—a top-end coach for 40 years—may be considered a rugby pastime, but given the 4-1 penalty count in Japan's favour at scrum-time, had he a point?
Granted, Ireland have travelled without Andrew Porter, Paddy McCarthy, Jack Boyle and Finlay Bealham while Jeremy Loughman was sidelined with a concussion.
Certainly, there were no problems solved here against Japan.
Sam Illo put in a useful shift from the bench, but there would have been better perspective had the last scrum been a form of measuring tape, had it not gone to 'uncontested'.
Ireland were nine points ahead at the time, getting 'free' ball and used it to score on full-time; had it been a 'real' scrum, Japan would have gone after it, a test in itself.
Meanwhile Ireland's lineout is a continuing shambles, primarily suffering from not having enough specialists - which is just a kind word for really...tall...guys.
Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan and Josh van der Flier don't answer this remit, and it is why Farrell is reluctant to have all three start the top-end games.
Caelan Doris is reasonably good here, Cian Prendergast can manage a share, and it would be interesting to ask why Darragh Murray hasn't been given an outing yet on this tour, as this is his singular forte.
Dan Sheehan managed, by NOT playing, to remind us he is the best of the three hookers at lineout time...
Albeit this is tempered by Ronan Kelleher being the best at scrum-time where there is that other set of problems!
Aside from the result, the biggest plus from Japan was debutant Sean Jansen, who, despite starting slowly, grew into the game to such an extent that he picked up the Man of the Match, posting 12 carries (53 metres) and 13 tackles (none missed),
The 27-year-old won't be replacing Caelan Doris anytime soon, and he is not a 'fix' for the lineout.
But, backed up by the reference Stuart Lancaster gave Farrell about him, and if we don't see him pick up some games at no6, he has made a solid case for a six-two bench-split in big games.
Watch the Dexcom space here: Jansen has made all of his 44 starts for Connacht at no8. If Lancaster starts putting him in for some runs at no6, it will be a 2027 Rugby World Cup sign.
The All Blacks roll into their third Nations Championship outing with two wins from two, beating France by two points and hammering Italy last weekend.
There isn't any evidence they are 'back' as yet, but following their defeat of France, Ireland is being framed as a litmus test.
Naturally, Ireland will go full-strength at Eden Park.
Ireland (probable): Keenan; Baloucoune, Ringrose, McCloskey, J O'Brien; S Prendergast, Gibson-Park; Loughman/O'Toole, Sheehan, Furlong, McCarthy, Ryan, Conan, van der Flier, Jansen.
