Ireland defeats Japan 36-20 in a Nations Championship match, extending the team’s perfect start. Multiple reports describe the win as a “grinding” performance in which Ireland manages to control the game while securing a bonus point. The result comes after Ireland’s previous match, a come-from-behind 33-31 victory over Australia, making it back-to-back wins for Ireland in the competition’s opening matches. Ireland captain Tadhg Beirne says the team is “happy with two from two,” reflecting progress early in the tournament. Following the match, attention turns to Ireland’s next fixture: a trip to New Zealand to face the All Blacks. The All Blacks are reported to have won their tournament opener against France 34-32 and then followed that with a 47-17 win over Italy. Across the coverage, the key shared points are the final score of Ireland’s 36-20 win, Ireland earning a bonus point, and both teams’ recent performances setting up the next round of fixtures.