So much focus was put on the Scotland game that the match against Japan felt like an afterthought. Alan Quinlan thinks it is dangerous to underestimate the hosts.
While there have been some assertions that Japan may rest their starters against Ireland and aim for the Scotland game, Quinlan thinks we can't overlook Saturday's game.
He compared it to Australia v Fiji last week and how the Aussies played quite loose in the first half which ended up coming back to bite them.
Speaking on Friday's OTB AM, Quinlan thinks it could be a tough game against Japan in Shizuoka if we play similarly.
"I think a key message tomorrow for Ireland is that they have to go forward before they try and go around Japan.
"Japan will try anything and everything at any stage and they are just a very dangerous side.
"If they run us close tomorrow I won't be surprised but I do expect us if we're on song we're 15 to 20 point winners," Quinlan said.
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Dan SheridanPotential banana skin
Thankfully, he does not think that this Ireland team will overlook the hosts.
"I genuinely don't believe that this group with Joe Schmidt will allow them in any way to relax a little bit and think this is going to be easy.
"Things can change and if you underestimate the opposition and don't respect them you can get caught out," the former Munster forward said.
In his eyes, the most important thing is just to get the job done and not worry too much about how it is done.
"Listen, if Ireland wins by two points tomorrow I don't care it's a win, they just got to find a way to win.
"Tomorrow's game is not really about performance it's about getting this out of the way because it's a potential banana skin," Quinlan said.
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