Bohan makes debut as Ireland finally see off Japan in Australia
Billy Bohan proudly displays his first Irish cap after making his debut against Japan in the Nations Championship Southern Hemisphere Series in the McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, Australia. Photos: ©INPHO/Ben Brady
It was a day that will live long in the memory of Billy Bohan and Ireland's three other debutants, Sean Jansen, Sam Illo and Bryn Ward, but for most, Ireland’s win over Japan will be quickly forgotten.
Ireland laboured at times before eventually pulling away to win by 36-20. A week after a superb win over Australia and before a mouth-watering game against New Zealand in Eden Park, it was perhaps no surprise that Ireland were slightly below the levels that Andy Farrell would perhaps expect.
From a Kildare point of view, Tadhg Beirne, who captained the team for the first time, Jamie Osborne and Jimmy O’Brien all featured but it was undoubtedly the appearance of Bohan that was the major talking point.
It capped a meteoric rise for the Kilcullen man and former Newbridge College student. He started the season in the third tier of the AIL with Corinthians and yet, here he was, running out to make his senior international debut.
“It’s weird to hear that,” said the 20-year-old, when speaking to the media after the game.
“A few years have gone by pretty quick, from playing 2A to here. I’m not sure how many months it is, but it feels like it’s been a few years since that, to be honest. So it’s funny.”
“Corinthians has been class, just the team environment when I went in last year. Such a young group, so it was such good craic playing with them. Obviously, the seriousness in the Connacht set-up. Then you go out to Corinthians to play on the weekend, and it’s just great fun. I really enjoyed my time there,” added Bohan.
His grandfather, the great Mick Doyle, who also played rugby in Newbridge College and went on to captain Ireland’s Triple Crown winning team of 1985 before sadly passing away in 2004 wasn’t there to see Bohan win his first cap but his mother Amanda and father Enda, himself a former AIL player of some repute, were in the stadium proudly watching on, as were his brothers Tom and Jamie.
Bohan said his father was always an encouraging presence without ever being overly forceful.
“My dad actually kind of stayed out of it, to be honest. He coached me when I was younger, so he’d get me going when I was younger, but once I knew what I was doing, he’d never really give tips. He’d say, ‘well done’ and stuff, but he wouldn’t get in the way. He just kind of let me make my own path.”
Beirne said he was pleased that the four debutants could mark the first caps with a win.
“It’s huge for the group. It’s great for young lads get their first cap but it’s also great to see the performances they put in during the week. It’s a special week for them and it was on us as a group to make sure it was a special night for them in terms of getting the win. It was a hard-fought win tonight but we managed to do that for those four boys.”
