James Ryan enjoyed Uruguay’s upset of Fiji but vowed Ireland won’t get caught out in a similar vein.
Ryan, 23, starred in the opening pool win over Scotland and is part of an unchanged pack that faces hosts Japan tomorrow.
While the Brave Blossoms have exuded confidence all week, they could be blown away in Shizuoka.
“Well I think – I hope anyway – that we’re not complacent,” said Ryan. “I don’t think you can be with a team like Japan, who have probably a once in a lifetime opportunity at the moment, playing in Shizuoka in front of 50-odd thousand at home.
“The message that’s been driven is we know Japan, this is an absolute huge game for them. I think there’s no complacency from us... I hope.
“I don’t think we’re under any illusions, they’re going to be pumped for this game.”
And Japan will have an eight day turnaround as opposed to Ireland’s six.
“it’s the recovery that is so important,” he said. “The six-day turnaround, it can be tough. People have been in the ice bath, getting soft tissue done, NormaTecs and all those kind of things.”
Having practically enjoyed a home game last weekend i Yokohama, it will be a different story this time as the home fans get behind their own team.
“Last week coming onto the pitch, it had a different feel to a Six Nations game alright,” he said.
“So I can’t imagine what the atmosphere is going to be like this week with Japan in Shizuoka.
“We’ve just got to bring the best version of ourselves again. We know how big a challenge it’s going to be.
“If we can back our fitness and back our defence then hopefully it will be enough.”
And Ryan hopes to slurp his way to success in the Land of the Rising Sun after getting tucked into the local grub.
“I think it’s a polite thing here, isn’t it, to slurp”, he smiled.
“I love ramen and I’ve been to a few places and the lads either side of me were heads down in the bowl and slurping pretty loudly.”
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