Japan's Eddie Jones, back from a four match ban, makes one change to the side that defeated Italy
Tadhg Beirne will captain Ireland for the first time, on his 72nd appearance, against Japan on Saturday in Newcastle, Australia. It is a singular honour for 'Eadestown Easy' stepping into the role as Caelan Doris is not on tour because of an injury and Dan Sheehan, who led the side against Australia last week, is rested.
"I'm really excited about this game with Japan for all sorts of reasons," says Ireland coach Andy Farrell, "and obviously then, yeah, the milestone in Tadhg Beirne captaining his country for the first time. "How he goes about his job, how he understands what it is that we're after as a team, driving standards of that, he typifies that.
There is one new cap in the starting line-up, New Zealand-born Sean Jansen who has been at Connacht since 2023 and, previously, has played with Ireland A twice. Two further Connacht stars, Billy Bohan and Sam Illo, and Ulster back-row Bryn Ward will also be making their debuts should they be used from the bench.
"I'm really looking forward to how they apply themselves to attacking the game first and foremost, because that's their roles what they are able to add to the team and the performance behind all that. "But making sure that the rest of the team are there to support them for it to be a special day for them. So, yeah, huge congratulations to the four of them.
Ronan Kelleher made his Ireland debut in February 2020 against Scotland and will be reach his half-century of caps on Saturday.
"For Ronan to get his 50th cap, it's something that we've we've worked hard to celebrate together over the last few years. "We'll do that as a group tonight with the four debutants as well because I feel it's a huge honour to get to 50 caps in the test arena. "It shows just what level of consistency at the top level you're able to produce, congratulations to him.
"Japan opened their November by giving the NZ Maoris a run for their money in Nagoya, eventually losing 31-38 in a game where they were only behind for seven minutes in total. "For anyone who's seen the games, a team that's bang in form. I mentioned the the Maori game last week and how they played against them.
"We all know how difficult Italy are these days to play against with the type of rugby that they want to play. "I thought Japan dominated the game from from start to finish last week, so the confidence that they're going to bring over to Newcastle here is going to be the test that we're after.
"He was serving the last two games of a four match ban imposed by his own official for abusing match officials on an U23 tour of Australia earlier this year. New Zealand-born, he moved to Japan with his family as a 14 year-old and while he has played most of his rugby in Japan he was a Super Rugby winner with Hurricanes earlier this year.
Precocious talent, 21 year-old out-half Ryunosuke Ito who is still a university student and made his debut against Italy, retains his place in a side that shows just one change from last week,Japan: Takuro Matsunaga; Kazuma Ueda, Dylan Riley, Yuya Hirose, Taira Main; Ryunosuke Ito, Naoto Saito; Takato Okabe, Mamoru Harada, Shuhei Takeuchi, Harry Hockings, Warner Dearns , Ben Gunter, Kanji Shimokawa, Jack Cornelsen. Replacements: Hayate Era, Sojiro Otuska, Keijiro Tamefusa, Michael Stolberg, Michael Leitch, Tiennan Costley, Itsuki Kamimura, Sam Greene.
Please follow us on Google to support usAndy Farrell Tadhg Beirne Connacht Rugby Jamie Osborne Jack Conan Ronan Kelleher Peter O'mahony Munster Rugby
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