Having failed to qualify for the last World Cup, this Ireland team could not wait to get their tournament up and running and it didn’t take them long to make an early impression.
The forwards made a couple of early entries into Japan’s 22 but could not penetrate so it fell to the backs to conjure up something creative.
Some slick passing released Costigan out wide to score the opening try in the fifth minute.
When a penalty was kicked to the corner a few minutes later, Ireland’s intent was clear and Jones rumbled over for a second try following a line-out maul that took a while to get going.
Having started slowly in the warm-up games against Scotland and Canada, Ireland had talked all week about the pressing need to make a fast start in this game – two tries and a 14-0 lead after 10 minutes meant that box was certainly ticked.
Despite a line-out that was creaking, Ireland’s error count was low and they dictated the terms, with O’Brien’s kicking game forcing Japan to run out from deep and inevitably get turned over.
Ireland’s electric wing Parsons has the capacity to light up this tournament if she gets enough ball.
The first time she got front foot ball in the game, she made it count with Ireland’s third try in the 24th minute.
