Japan vs Ireland Prediction & Betting Tips - Nations Championship

Prediction published on 09/07/2026, 05:10  by Ita Emmanuel | Modified on 10/07/2026 at 06:41 in Nations Championship Predictions

A neutral ground McDonald Jones Stadium will host the 2026 Nations Championship Round 2 clash between Ireland and Japan on Saturday. Ireland, sitting nine places above Japan in the world rankings, enter this contest on a five-Test winning streak and boast a dominant head-to-head record against the Brave Blossoms. This is why our prediction favors an emphatic victory for the world's third-ranked side.

Fresh from a terrific finish to the 2026 Six Nations, Ireland have carried their momentum into the Nations Championship. Andy Farrell's side kicked off their campaign with a 33–31 away victory over Australia in Sydney last week, thanks to Sam Prendergast's game-winning conversion.

Last week's result means the four-time Grand Slam winners have won each of their last five Tests stretching back to the Six Nations. They will look to sustain this momentum and continue with their strong start to the tournament.

Japan pulled off a shocker in their Nations Championship opener against Italy. The Brave Blossoms aced both halves, including a 10–0 second-half shutout, to thrash the Italians 27–10. However, they arrive here on the back foot, having lost five of their last seven Tests.

Notably, the Eddie Jones-led team have lost six of their last eight encounters with higher-ranked opposition, with their previous three meetings with Ireland ending in defeat.