Andy Farrell has made nine changes to his Ireland team for Saturday’s Nations Championship meeting with Japan in Newcastle, Australia, handing Connacht number eight Sean Jansen his first cap and giving Tadhg Beirne the captaincy from the start for the first time.
Jansen is one of four potential debutants, with his Connacht team-mates Billy Bohan and Sam Illo joined on the bench by Ulster back row Bryn Ward. Hooker Ronan Kelleher wins his 50th cap, while Ciaran Frawley and Craig Casey form a new half-back pairing. Robbie Henshaw returns in midfield, Jacob Stockdale comes onto the wing and Jamie Osborne switches from wing to full-back — compare the confirmed side with our predicted Ireland team for the Japan clash.
Sky Sports reports that frontline names including Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Jamison Gibson-Park, Garry Ringrose and Hugo Keenan have been rested ahead of next weekend’s meeting with the All Blacks in Auckland. Jeremy Loughman is out after suffering a concussion against the Wallabies, and there is still no place for Robert Baloucoune following his hamstring problem before the Australia Test.
Tom O’Toole, James Ryan and Jack Conan are the only forwards retained from last weekend’s 33-31 comeback win over Australia in Sydney, with Conan shifting from number eight to the blindside. Kick-off in Newcastle is 11.10am BST on Saturday.
Ireland team to face Japan: 15 Jamie Osborne, 14 Jimmy O’Brien, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Ciaran Frawley, 9 Craig Casey; 1 Tom O’Toole, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 4 Tadhg Beirne (captain), 5 James Ryan, 6 Jack Conan, 7 Nick Timoney, 8 Sean Jansen.
Replacements: 16 Tom Stewart, 17 Billy Bohan, 18 Sam Illo, 19 Cormac Izuchukwu, 20 Bryn Ward, 21 Nathan Doak, 22 Harry Byrne, 23 Bundee Aki.
