RFC Verdict
Ireland defeated Japan by 16 points, 20–36.
| Winner | Ireland |
|---|---|
| Margin | 16 |
| Verified score | 20–36 |
Nations Championship 2026
Full Time
🇯🇵
JPN
Japan
20–36
🇮🇪
IRE
Ireland
DateJuly 11, 2026
VenueNewcastle Stadium, Newcastle | Awabakal-Worimi, Australia
RFC INTELLIGENCE ENGINE 2.0
DATA-BACKEDMatch Intelligence
Verified rugby data, translated into context.
Inside the Numbers
56 total points were scored.
Ireland scored 64% of the match points.
The total was 5.6 points below the competition average of 61.6.
| Total points | 56 |
|---|---|
| Margin | 16 |
Form Guide
Japan: L L W
Ireland: L W W
| Window | Latest five completed matches in this competition |
|---|---|
| Key | W win, D draw, L loss |
Records & Milestones
This was the highest-scoring recorded meeting between these teams.
This matched the closest recorded finish between these teams.
RFC currently has 2 completed meetings between these teams available in this dataset.
| Recorded meetings | 2 |
|---|---|
| Scope | All synchronized RFC competitions |
Key Battle
Ireland’s attack (30.0 points per match) against Japan’s defence (29.3 conceded per match) is the clearest data-backed matchup.
| Japan points for | 20.7 |
|---|---|
| Japan points against | 29.3 |
| Ireland points for | 30 |
| Ireland points against | 30.3 |
What This Means
Japan is now 1-0-2 in this competition and on a 2-match losing run.
Ireland is now 2-0-1 in this competition.
| Scope | Current competition record after this result |
|---|
What’s Next
Ireland next faces Argentina — Fri, Nov 6, 2026 3:10 PM.
Japan next faces Wales — Sat, Nov 7, 2026 11:40 AM.
| Source | Verified competition schedule |
|---|
RFC Match Insight
This is the closest meeting between these teams currently available in this dataset.
- Definition
- Closest meeting
- Source
- RFC verified match data and calculations
- Scope
- Match: Japan vs Ireland
- Method
- Identifies whether the current result matches the smallest recorded margin.
- Confidence
- Deterministic
- Calculated
- 2026-09-22 08:04:35 UTC
Data used
| Current Margin | 16 |
|---|---|
| Smallest Recorded Margin | 16 |
| Meetings | 2 |
Ireland has won the last 2 recorded meetings.
- Definition
- Head-to-head streak
- Source
- RFC verified match data and calculations
- Scope
- Match: Japan vs Ireland
- Method
- Counts consecutive wins by the current series leader.
- Confidence
- Deterministic
- Calculated
- 2026-09-22 08:04:35 UTC
Data used
| Team | Ireland |
|---|---|
| Consecutive Wins | 2 |
RFC currently has 2 completed meetings between Japan and Ireland available in this dataset.
- Definition
- Recorded meetings
- Source
- RFC verified match data and calculations
- Scope
- Match: Japan vs Ireland
- Method
- Counts completed meetings between two teams.
- Confidence
- Deterministic
- Calculated
- 2026-09-22 08:04:35 UTC
Data used
| Meetings | 2 |
|---|---|
| Home Team | Japan |
| Away Team | Ireland |
Their recorded meetings average 56.0 combined points.
- Definition
- Meeting scoring average
- Source
- RFC verified match data and calculations
- Scope
- Match: Japan vs Ireland
- Method
- Calculates average combined points across recorded meetings.
- Confidence
- Deterministic
- Calculated
- 2026-09-22 08:04:35 UTC
Data used
| Combined Points | 112 |
|---|---|
| Meetings | 2 |
| Average | 56 |
RFC Match Centre
Full TimeMatch Details
DateJuly 11, 2026Match date
VenueNewcastle Stadium, Newcastle | Awabakal-Worimi, AustraliaMatch venue
StatusFull TimeFinal whistle
The officiating team
5 officialsMatch Officials
RefereeAndrea PiardiLead match official
Assistant Referee 1Ben O'Keeffe
Assistant Referee 2Morne Ferreira
TV Match OfficialMatteo Liperini
Foul Play Review Officer (FPRO)Ian Tempest
Japan
Starting XV
- –Eddie JonesHead Coach
- 1Takato OkabeProp
- 2Mamoru HaradaHooker
- 3Shuhei TakeuchiProp
- 4Harry HockingsLock
- 5Warner DearnsLock
- 6Ben GunterFlanker
- 7Kanji ShimokawaFlanker
- 8Jack CornelsenNumber 8
- 9Naoto SaitoScrum Half
- 10Ryunosuke ItoFly Half
- 11Taira MainWing
- 12Yuya HiroseCentre
- 13Dylan RileyCentre
- 14Kazuma UedaWing
- 15Takuro MatsunagaFull Back
Replacements
- 16Hayate EraReplacement
- 17Sojiro OtsukaReplacement
- 18Keijiro TamefusaReplacement
- 19Michael StolbergReplacement
- 20Michael LeitchReplacement
- 21Tiennan CostleyReplacement
- 22Itsuki KamimuraReplacement
- 23Sam GreeneReplacement
Ireland
Starting XV
- –Andy FarrellHead Coach
- 1Tom O'TooleProp
- 2Ronan KelleherHooker
- 3Tom ClarksonProp
- 4Tadhg BeirneLock
- 5James RyanLock
- 6Jack ConanFlanker
- 7Nick TimoneyFlanker
- 8Sean JansenNumber 8
- 9Craig CaseyScrum Half
- 10Ciaran FrawleyFly Half
- 11Jacob StockdaleWing
- 12Stuart McCloskeyCentre
- 13Robbie HenshawCentre
- 14Jimmy O'BrienWing
- 15Jamie OsborneFull Back
Replacements
- 16Tom StewartReplacement
- 17Billy BohanReplacement
- 18Sam IlloReplacement
- 19Cormac IzuchukwuReplacement
- 20Bryn WardReplacement
- 21Nathan DoakReplacement
- 22Harry ByrneReplacement
- 23Bundee AkiReplacement
1′
●
Change Match Status0–0
Japan4′
🏉
Try5–0
Taira MainJapan5′
◆
Conversion7–0
Takuro MatsunagaJapan9′
🏉
Try7–5
Nick TimoneyIreland10′
◆
Conversion7–7
Ciaran FrawleyIreland18′
◆
Penalty10–7
Takuro MatsunagaJapan21′
🏉
Try10–12
Tom O'TooleIreland28′
◆
Penalty13–12
Takuro MatsunagaJapan32′
↔
Replacement On13–12
Tiennan CostleyJapan32′
↔
Replacement Off13–12
Yuya HiroseJapan35′
🏉
Try13–17
Robbie HenshawIreland35′
◆
Conversion13–19
Ciaran FrawleyIreland41′
●
Change Match Status13–19
Japan41′
↔
Replacement On13–19
Sam GreeneJapan41′
↔
Replacement Off13–19
Dylan RileyJapan48′
↔
Replacement On13–19
Hayate EraJapan48′
↔
Replacement Off13–19
Mamoru HaradaJapan48′
↔
Replacement On13–19
Sam IlloIreland48′
↔
Replacement Off13–19
Tom ClarksonIreland48′
↔
Replacement On13–19
Bundee AkiIreland48′
↔
Replacement Off13–19
Stuart McCloskeyIreland51′
🏉
Try13–24
Sean JansenIreland51′
◆
Conversion13–26
Ciaran FrawleyIreland53′
↔
Replacement On13–26
Michael StolbergJapan53′
↔
Replacement Off13–26
Harry HockingsJapan53′
↔
Replacement On13–26
Michael LeitchJapan53′
↔
Replacement Off13–26
Kanji ShimokawaJapan54′
↔
Replacement On13–26
Sojiro OtsukaJapan54′
↔
Replacement Off13–26
Takato OkabeJapan54′
↔
Replacement On13–26
Keijiro TamefusaJapan54′
↔
Replacement Off13–26
Shuhei TakeuchiJapan55′
↔
Replacement On13–26
Billy BohanIreland55′
↔
Replacement Off13–26
Tom O'TooleIreland59′
🏉
Try18–26
Hayate EraJapan59′
↔
Replacement On18–26
Tom StewartIreland59′
↔
Replacement Off18–26
Ronan KelleherIreland59′
↔
Replacement On18–26
Harry ByrneIreland59′
↔
Replacement Off18–26
Jacob StockdaleIreland60′
◆
Conversion20–26
Takuro MatsunagaJapan62′
↔
Replacement On20–26
Cormac IzuchukwuIreland62′
↔
Replacement Off20–26
Jack ConanIreland62′
↔
Replacement On20–26
Bryn WardIreland62′
↔
Replacement Off20–26
Sean JansenIreland71′
↔
Replacement On20–26
Nathan DoakIreland71′
↔
Replacement Off20–26
Craig CaseyIreland71′
◆
Penalty20–29
Harry ByrneIreland73′
↔
Replacement On20–29
Itsuki KamimuraJapan73′
↔
Replacement Off20–29
Naoto SaitoJapan77′
🟨
Yellow Card20–29
Hayate EraJapan80′
↔
Replacement On20–29
Takato OkabeJapan80′
↔
Replacement Off20–29
Jack CornelsenJapan80′
🏉
Try20–34
Tom StewartIreland81′
◆
Conversion20–36
Harry ByrneIrelandJapanAnimated Team ComparisonIreland
OverviewTeam comparison
Points
0VS0
JPNIRE
Tries
0VS0
JPNIRE
Possession
0%
JPN0%
IRETerritory
0%
JPN0%
IREAttackTeam comparison
Carries
0VS0
JPNIRE
Carry Metres
0VS0
JPNIRE
Clean Breaks
0VS0
JPNIRE
Defenders Beaten
0VS0
JPNIRE
Offloads
0VS0
JPNIRE
Passes
0VS0
JPNIRE
Try Assists
0VS0
JPNIRE
Rucks Beyond Gain Line
0%
JPN0%
IREBreakdownTeam comparison
Ruck Success
0%
JPN0%
IRERucks Won
0VS0
JPNIRE
Rucks Total
0VS0
JPNIRE
Rucks Under 3 Seconds
0VS0
JPNIRE
Rucks 3–6 Seconds
0VS0
JPNIRE
Rucks Over 6 Seconds
0VS0
JPNIRE
Turnovers Won
0VS0
JPNIRE
Set PieceTeam comparison
Scrum Success
0%
JPN0%
IREScrums Won
0VS0
JPNIRE
Scrums Total
0VS0
JPNIRE
Lineout Success
0%
JPN0%
IRELineouts Won
0VS0
JPNIRE
Lineouts Lost
0VS0
JPNIRE
Mauls Won
0VS0
JPNIRE
Maul Metres
0VS0
JPNIRE
KickingTeam comparison
Kicks From Hand
0VS0
JPNIRE
Kick Metres
0VS0
JPNIRE
Goal Kicking
0%
JPN0%
IREConversions
0VS0
JPNIRE
Successful Goal Kicks
0%
JPN0%
IREKicks to Touch
0VS0
JPNIRE
Kicks Retained
0VS0
JPNIRE
DefenceTeam comparison
Tackles Made
0VS0
JPNIRE
Missed Tackles
0VS0
JPNIRE
Tackle Success
0%
JPN0%
IREDominant Tackles
0VS0
JPNIRE
Turnover Tackles
0VS0
JPNIRE
DisciplineTeam comparison
Penalties Conceded
0VS0
JPNIRE
Yellow Cards
0VS0
JPNIRE
Free Kicks Conceded
0VS0
JPNIRE
Japan
PlayerMinPtsCarMetresTkls
Ireland
PlayerMinPtsCarMetresTkls
Meetings currently recorded by RFC
2Meetings
0Japan wins
0Draws
2Ireland wins
Recent meetings
JapanJuly 11, 2026 · Nations Championship 2026 · Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle | Awabakal-Worimi, Australia
20 – 36IrelandJapanAugust 24, 2025 · Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 · Franklin's Gardens, Northampton, England
14 – 42Ireland