Coach Andy Farrell has made nine changes to Ireland’s starting XV to face Japan in the Nations Championship on Saturday.
Lock Tadhg Beirne will lead the Irish out as captain for the first time, with only six players from their nail-biting 33-31 victory over the Wallabies in Sydney last week retaining their place for the showdown in Newcastle, Australia.
They are backs Stuart McCloskey, Jamie Osborne and Jimmy O’Brien, along with forwards Tom O’Toole, James Ryan and Jack Conan, with Farrell having an eye on a blockbuster clash with the All Blacks at Eden Park on 18 July.
Connacht loose forward Sean Jansen will start for the first time at No 8, with provincial teammates Billy Bohan and Sam Illo also set for debuts off the bench.
Ulster flanker Bryn Ward was also included in the match 23 for the first time.
Having started on the wing last week, Osborne switches to fullback in a back three alongside O’Brien and Jacob Stockdale.
Robbie Henshaw comes into centre to partner McCloskey, with a new-look halfback pairing in Craig Casey and Ciaran Frawley.
In the pack, the front row sees O’Toole, Ronan Kelleher and Thomas Clarkson combine, with the experienced Beirne partnering James Ryan in the second row.
Beirne has taken over the captaincy on-field before, but never started as skipper.
Conan switches to blindside flanker, with Nick Timoney named at openside and Jansen completing the starting team at No 8.
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Ireland said during the week they were injury-free, bar Munster prop Jeremy Loughman who suffered a concussion after coming off the bench against Australia.
Farrell’s men comfortably beat Japan 41-10 when they last met, in Dublin in November.
IRELAND – 15 Jamie Osborne, 14 Jimmy O’Brien, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Ciaran Frawley, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Sean Jansen, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 Jack Conan, 5 James Ryan, 4 Tadhg Beirne (c), 3 Tom Clarkson, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 1 Tom O’Toole. Bench: 16 Tom Stewart, 17 Billy Bohan, 18 Sam Illo, 19 Cormac Izuchukwu, 20 Bryn Ward, 21 Nathan Doak, 22 Harry Byrne, 23 Bundee Aki.
Photo: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images
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Coach Andy Farrell has made nine changes to Ireland’s starting XV to face Japan in the Nations Championship on Saturday.
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