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 try.
"I think after that try we knew we had this. We went in ahead at half time and were so confident. We knew we didn't have it won, so we knew we had to keep going. From those first two tries we were on the up and I think we stayed there," she added.
In the second half, that same backline move between Breen and Deely sent the latter through a gap in midfield again, but this time she didn't need a supporting run, sprinting to the line for a sensational debut try.
"I knew that gap was still open again, so we went with the same move [as Aoife Doyle's try] and it worked out great in the end, it was brilliant.
"Everyone came running at me, I didn't expect it at all. The whole team comes and hugs you, it's an ecstatic feeling, it's amazing."
While Greg McWilliams was taking a gamble with such an inexperienced side, it was a calculated gamble, with Deely explaining how many of the young backline were familiar enough with each others' games.
"I didn't feel like there was much pressure on us, and especially with Aoife Dalton and Natasja Behan, us being 13-14-15; I've known them for quite a while and have played a lot of Sevens and club rugby with them both. They weren't new to me.
"It was easy to go with them, same with Enya, I've played with her since I was underage. Even though we were a new group we had a lot of experience together.
"I think Greg just gave us so much confidence, and that really helped because I knew there wasn't much pressure on me. Same with Niamh Briggs, it was just nice to have that backing."
For Behan, Saturday's debut brought to end a nervous wait. Having been selected for Ireland's Tiktok Six Nations squad earlier this year, the Wexford native admits to some wounded pride after the debut failed to materialise.
McWilliams named the Blackrock wing as someone who returned to the summer camp with renewed energy though, having spent time ironing out the creases in her game.
And she says having gone through disappointment earlier this season, the debut feeling was extra sweet.
"It feels unbelievable to be honest. When I was out on the pitch, I couldn't believe it. It feels really, really good and we’re feeling really, really positive after the win. So we’re happy out," the 22-year-old said.
"Not getting the cap during the Six Nations made me realise how much more I wanted it. It was more of a positive thing for me.
"Obviously in the beginning I was a bit down in the dumps. But you just have to pick yourself back up. I just knew what I wanted then.
"It was a hard few months in training, giving up a lot in terms of friends and going away and stuff like that. It all paid off in the end, I’m delighted now and happy I stuck with it."
Ireland have since moved on to Tokyo, where they will face Japan in Saturday's second Test, and Behan says they're keen to kick on even further, having acclimatised to the heat and humidity.
"We’re excited to hit the ground running and get a win under our belts. But we had a few errors today so we need to put in the hard work to fix them and put in another good shift next week," she added.
