'It feels unbelievable' - Ireland's big win in Japan marked by debuts to remember

Debuts don't come much better than they did on Saturday.

Six players in total won first caps, while for Dannah O'Brien, Aoife Dalton, Méabh Deely and Natasja Behan, their first Irish starts went like a dream.

Dalton and Deely both crossed for tries in the 57-22 win against Japan, while O'Brien marshalled the game with maturity in the 10 shirt, as well as kicking an impressive six conversions from nine attempts. And while Behan didn't get on the scoresheet, she came close to a try late in the game after pulling a brilliant crossfield kick out of the sky.

For 10 or 15 minutes, it looked like the four debutants would be in for a long day. Ireland barely touched the ball in the opening 10 minutes, conceding two tries and a penalty to fall 15-0 behind against the Sakura XV.

"I knew myself once we got the ball in attack we would get going," said Deely.

"It was a case of when that would happen, it did take us 10 or 15 minutes to get the ball and actually show what our attack was about.

"What I was really proud of was that we turned around and didn't get our heads down. I think, especially with such a new group, and new caps, we were thinking we really had to step up, and I think we did really well."

The Blackrock and Connacht full-back played a key role in the try that brought Ireland back within reach. After Neve Jones earlier got Ireland on the board following a maul, Deely linked up with centre partner Enya Breen to put Aoife Doyle over in the corner.

The score brought Ireland back within three, but having cut the hosts' defence open so easily, Deely says more scores felt inevitable.

"Our setpiece was going brilliantly, and the forwards were doing great and got the first try, and then once the backs got our hands on the ball we got a