Craig Casey And Tadhg Beirne Named In Ireland Team To Face Japan

Head Coach Andy Farrell has named the Ireland Match Day Squad, sponsored by Vodafone, for Saturday’s Nations Championship clash against Japan in Newcastle (Kick-off 8.10pm local time/11.10am Irish time).

After opening their Nations Championship campaign with a bonus-point win over Australia in Sydney last weekend, Ireland make the short trip to Newcastle for a Round 2 encounter against the Brave Blossoms at McDonald Jones Stadium this weekend.

Tadhg Beirne will lead Ireland out for the first time having previously taken over the on-field captaincy, while hooker Rónan Kelleher will reach the milestone of 50 Test caps in green when he starts in the front row.

There are also four players in line for their Ireland debuts in Newcastle.

Connacht back row Sean Jansen is named to start at number eight, with his provincial team-mates Billy Bohan and Sam Illo set for their first appearances in green off the bench, while Ulster back row Bryn Ward is also included in the Ireland Match Day 23 for the first time.

Having started on the left wing last week, Jamie Osborne switches to full-back against Japan in a back three alongside Jimmy O’Brien and Jacob Stockdale, as Robbie Henshaw comes into the Ireland midfield to partner Stuart McCloskey.

There is also a new-look half-back pairing for Ireland as Craig Casey and Ciaran Frawley are selected to start.

In the pack, the front row sees Tom O’Toole, Kelleher and Thomas Clarkson combine, with captain Beirne partnering James Ryan in the second row.

Jack Conan switches to blindside flanker, with Nick Timoney named at openside and Jansen completing Ireland’s starting team at number eight.

The uncapped forward trio of Bohan, Illo and Ward are joined on the bench by Tom Stewart and Cormac Izuchukwu, while Nathan Doak, Harry Byrne and Bundee Aki are the backline options available to Farrell.

Saturday’s match is live on Virgin Media One and ITV1.

Ireland (v Japan):

15. Jamie Osborne (Naas/Leinster)(16)

14. Jimmy O’Brien (Naas/Leinster)(12)

13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(84)

12. Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster)(29)

11. Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster)(42)

10. Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(13)

9. Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster)(28)

1. Tom O’Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(22)

2. Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(49)

3. Thomas Clarkson (Blackrock College/Leinster)(14)

4. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(71)(captain)

5. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)(81)

6. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(60)

7. Nick Timoney (Queen’s University/Ulster)(12)

8. Sean Jansen (Connacht)*

Replacements:

16. Tom Stewart (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(5)

17. Billy Bohan (Corinthians/Connacht)*

18. Sam Illo (Buccaneers/Connacht)*

19. Cormac Izuchukwu (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(4)

20. Bryn Ward (Ballynahinch/Ulster)*

21. Nathan Doak (Banbridge/Ulster)(1)

22. Harry Byrne (Lansdowne/Leinster)(4)

23. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(70).

* denotes uncapped