Nine-try Ireland thrash hapless Japan

Ireland made a superb start to their Autumn Nations Series campaign when they sealed a 60-5 victory against Japan at the Aviva Stadium.

Andrew Conway led the way with a well-taken hat-trick while James Lowe, Jamison Gibson-Park, Johnny Sexton, Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose and Cian Healy also crossed the whitewash for the home side.

Sexton finished with a 16-point haul as he also slotted four conversions and a penalty and Joey Carbery added two conversions.

Japan’s only points came via a try from Siosaia Fifita but they were outclassed and powerless to prevent the Irish from stretching their winning streak to six successive games.

Sexton became only the seventh Irishman to reach a century of appearances – following Brian O’Driscoll, Ronan O’Gara, Rory Best, Paul O’Connell, John Hayes and current team-mate Healy – and was afforded a standing ovation ahead of kick-off.

[Source: Planet Rugby]