Japan frustrations show how far Ireland have come, insists Monaghan

Japan had all the momentum as Misaki Matsumura sped into the opposition 22. 

The winger was maybe five metres out when scrum-half Aoibheann Reilly got a wrap around her heels, and Monaghan played an auxiliary role in stemming the immediate threat.

But alarm bells were still ringing.

Moe Tsukui was straight onto the scene. 

The Japanese No.9 had at least a two-player overlap on the left side of an Irish defence that was scrambling desperately into the breach. All she had to do was feed her openside flanker off the base of the ruck and they were in.

That was when Eve Higgins struck. 

The Leinster centre was already having a brilliant game but then she read the pass, intercepted it and ran almost the full length of the pitch to build a 28-point lead when the margin might have been cut to seven.

“I had just made the tackle and then I heard this almighty roar,” said Monaghan. “She just kept going. It was class.” 

Ireland could have been in real trouble had Japan scored at that point. Slender margins. 

If the end game was comfortable enough then a bonus-point win allied to a stiff enough test in the process made for a very acceptable first day’s work.

Even England and New Zealand, the hosts and holders, and two of the favourites, took time to find their stride in their pool openers. 

That Ireland look ahead to their follow-up against Spain on the back of a similar experience might make it the perfect start.

“I wouldn’t say there is ever a perfect game,” said Monaghan. “It sort of shows where this team is at the minute, to be honest, because a few of us were frustrated at points and there was maybe momentum swings in that game.

“We felt like maybe we should have turned the tide a bit quicker but there were so many positives to take out of it. I am so proud of the group. No-one can underestimate the Japanese. They are a very strong and clinical side.

“Some of the defensive pressure we were under was tough.” 

No-one disputes the reality that Ireland will need to be better come the last pool game, against New Zealand in Brighton. That starts with their second Pool C outing, against Spain in Northampton, this coming Sunday.

There is so much to build on. Aoibheann Reilly’s service at scrum-half was exceptional, Dannah O’Brien showed real maturity at ten, and there were standout performances higher up the teamsheet and further down it too.

Higgins, all too often overlooked as a key player in the Irish midfield, was exceptional on both sides of the ball while Brittany Hogan, the official player of the match, allied big carries with bigger tackles from her role as No.8.

Nobody carried more for Ireland than Monaghan, with 15, and her tackle count hit double figures. It was a display that solidified just how important the second row and co-captain is to this team after her recent injury issues.

Monaghan missed a year of rugby after injuring her ACL playing for Gloucester-Hartpury 14 months ago but, unlike Dorothy Wall or Erin King, the timing of her misfortune did at least give her enough runway to meet the World Cup.

“I’m very grateful that the times aligned and allowed me to play at the World Cup. Some players weren’t. Dorothy Wall was in there in the changing-room afterwards and it was great to see her. She is a huge part of this group.” 

This was just a third game since her return so the expectation is that the former Meath footballer will kick on again with more games under her belt. 

The same holds for Edel McMahon, Eimear Corr-Fallon and Beibhinn Parsons after their own absences.

Just as impressive as individual efforts and collective passages was the frame of mind Ireland brought to the table on a day when they returned to World Cup action for the first time in eight long and sometimes difficult years.

Time and again players referenced the support from loved ones and the wider support base, on the day and in the lead-in, and it made their rapid start against the Japanese, when claiming a 14-0 early lead, all the more impressive.

“We were quite deliberate in our process,” said Monaghan, “depending on whether we were kicking off or receiving, what our roles were, what areas of the pitch we wanted to play in. Winning that first moment was really important individually.”