Ireland boss Bemand demands 50-point ruthlessness despite 43-19 rout of Japan in Cork

Ireland head coach Scott Bemand believes his side left a significant number of points on the pitch despite a 43-19 victory over Japan at Virgin Media Park in Cork on Saturday, insisting the scoreline should have reached 50 or even 60.

Ireland ran in seven tries, with Eilis Cahill, Brittany Hogan, Neve Jones, Anna McGann, Beibhinn Parsons, Alana McInerney and Sophie Barrett all crossing the whiteboard. Japan, however, threatened a second-half comeback through Nami Asari and Nijiho Nagata to cut the deficit to 10 points before Ireland pulled clear late on.

“I think there’s a bigger score out there,” Bemand said. “That score should have been in the 50, perhaps even pushing 60. You’re never going to get them all, but I think when we get to where we want to get to, and hopefully that includes South Africa, we’ll be more relentless when we get into the scoring zone.”

Bemand reserved particular praise for McGann, who scored in the corner in what was her third consecutive strong performance. “I thought Anna McGann was excellent again today,” he said. “She’s had three games now where she’s able to build a run of games, a run of performances. You saw her desperation to score when she scored in this bottom corner here. It was outstanding.”

The win comes after a turbulent start to Ireland’s autumn campaign. In their opening WXV Global Series fixture, Bemand’s side surrendered a 19-point lead against the USA Women’s Eagles in Dublin before losing 40-36. A week later in Galway, Parsons became Ireland’s all-time leading points scorer with a brace of tries in a 31-24 victory over Japan.

Bemand acknowledged the inconsistency but framed it within a broader development arc targeting the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2029. “It’s actually been a tough couple of weeks, really,” he said. “From a sort of rip-roaring start against USA to surrendering a 19-point lead and some of the bits of the game that it exposes. There’s a piece around this Global Series about growing our game and adding layers.”

Ireland now travel to Cape Town for a two-Test series against South Africa, with Bemand clear that the standards he is demanding will need to be met if his side are to compete at the top end of the game within three years.