"We just stopped" - Japan coach Eddie Jones 'frustrated' by knock-on decision for Ireland try

The Ulster star broke free through the Japan defence, and raced away for a try from the 22m line for a score that caught almost everyone in the Aviva off-guard. Japan had come to a halt in anticipation of a knock-on from Ireland lock James Ryan, yet Timoney pumped no such brakes to capitalise upon the lapse of judgement. Jones pointed out an potential refereeing miss-hap in the lead up to the try, as the match officials did not catch a possible knock-on in the build-up to Timoney's breakway score.

The score was Ireland's second of the match, following up from Jack Crowley's opening efforts from the 18th minute. Andy Farrell's side would go on to bag a total of six tries on the day, yet it was Timoney's score from the first half that left Jones frustrated in Dublin.

"The try that seven (Timoney) scored, we just stopped, anticipating the referee was going to call a knock-on." Jones said, in the Aviva Stadium's post match conference. "I think there's interesting interpretations of knock-ons these days, it used to be the ball goes off the hand and went forward, now it depends on which direction you're pointing in.

"But anyway, that's our fault, and we just need to be more observant in the game, stay in the game, don't switch off. I think that that's the thing in the end that cost us most today."

Whilst Japan was unhappy with the decision behind Ireland's second score, the former England and Australia head coach could not deny the impact that Andy Farrell's replacements bench brought to the fray.

After just taking a seven-point lead into the half-time break, Farrell unleashed his substitutes against a tiring Japanese outfit to score four unanswered second half tries. Replacement props Gus and Paddy McCarthy contributed to the score-sheet, as the back-up pack flexed their muscles akin to a Springboks style 'Bomb Squad'.

"They brought a lot of energy." Jones added. "Particularly in their carry, they brought a lot of impact in their carry, and for most of the game we were able to stop Ireland getting quick ruck ball.

"We know Ireland are a team that needs that quick ruck ball to play their organized attack. Their carriers, particularly in that last 20 minutes, were very impactful and created a lot of quick ruck ball which then created opportunities for them to attack on the outside."

Both sides spent 10-minute spells with 14 men on the pitch, as Japan centre Charlie Lawrence and Ireland wing Jacob Stockdale both spent time in the sin bin. Lawrence up-ended Tom Farrell in a tackle, that sent the Irish debutant to the deck for a tough landing upon his head and neck. Stockdale clashed heads with a Japan outside back, and rightfully returned following the accidental incident.

Unlike the controversial decision to upgrade Tadhg Beirne's yellow card to a red in Ireland's defeat to New Zealand in Chicago, neither Lawrence or Stockdale would suffer such fate, as both men returned from their respective trips to the bin. However, Jones' Japan were unable to capitalise upon their brief extra-man advantage, much to the umbrage of the Australian.

"We had a couple of opportunities, but we just didn't take them, we weren't good enough to take them. Ireland, we know that's not their top team, but the great thing Ireland's been able to do is produce teams that stay in the fight.

"They stay in the fight and we just needed in that period of time just to stay in the fight, stay close, not try to do silly things. We became a bit individual at times and gave opportunities away and gave them opportunities to score and they capitalised on every chance they had basically.

The 41-10 defeat, following on from Japan's previous 61-7 Autumn Series hammering to South Africa, leaves the Brave Blossoms with just two tries in their two November Tests so far. Jones was asked why his side has been struggling to get across the whitewash so far this series, with the Japan head coach giving a succinct evaluation as to how his team needs to 'fight like hell' to dent the defensive walls.

"Well, today we probably created three or four opportunities, where potentially our composure when we make line breaks was really poor. Knowing when to throw the offload, not knowing when to throw the offload, your body position in that line break.

"When you've made a line break, you gotta fight like hell to stay up because you know you're isolated, but we'd go to ground too easily. So there's all those little bits and pieces that we've just got to get better at and it's all the simple parts of the game, it's not the complex part of the game."