Ireland 'showed what we're about' in Japan win

Ireland captain Erin King said her side "showed what we're all about" after they bounced back to earn their first WXV Global Series win with a 31-24 victory over Japan.

Having surrendered a 19-point lead to lose to the USA last week, Ireland scored five tries to see off a spirited Japan at Galway's Dexcom Stadium.

Beibhinn Parsons crossed twice to become Ireland women's all-time record try scorer, with Brittany Hogan (2) and Aoife Dalton also touching down.

"[I'm] definitely very proud of the girls, they stuck in there until the end and showed what we're all about," King told TG4.

"Last week asked questions of us and I think we answered them today

"It was really important for us. We definitely had some frustrations. It was tough, we learned a lot, we had a really good training week and we showed out there in parts what we can do.

"But fair play to Japan, they really brought it to us and it was no easy feat."

While pleased that his side navigated their way through "adversity" in the second half as Japan clawed their way back into the game in breezy conditions, Ireland head coach Scott Bemand felt his players should have been further ahead than 19-5 at the break.

"I'm delighted for the girls because they had a bit of adversity in the second half," said Bemand.

"[They were] playing into a strong Galway breeze and they've had to work out how to unlock the edges with possessions through the middle, you couldn't just rely on the kicking game to gain territory.

"I think we've worked our way through a game there. I think we'll look back and say we left three out there in the first half and that scoreboard should have looked a little bit more favourable for us."

Ireland face Japan again next week in a non-WXV match in Cork before travelling to South Africa for two Global Series games against the Springboks.