Ireland head coach Andy Farrell is set to hand out four debuts in Saturday’s Nations Championship meeting with Japan in Newcastle, with Tadhg Beirne captaining the side for the first time.
The Munster skipper will lead out a side that shows nine changes from last week’s 33-31 win against Australia, with several frontline stars rested ahead of next week’s visit to the All Blacks at Eden Park.
Connacht’s Sean Jansen is the only debutant in the starting team, with the powerful back row named at number 8. The New Zealand-born 27-year-old, whose grandparents hail from Belfast and Monasterevin, scored 12 tries in a breakout season for the province in 2025/26, while he has also previously featured for Ireland A.
Jansen’s Connacht team-mates Billy Bohan and Sam Illo are also handed debuts off the bench, as is 21-year-old Ulster back-row Bryn Ward.
Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, Josh van der Flier, Jamison Gibson-Park, Sam Prendergast, Garry Ringrose and Hugo Keenan are all rested.
Farrell has also handed Ciarán Frawley (below) his first Test start at out-half.
The versatile Leinster back, who is set to join Connacht next season, will win his 14th Ireland cap on Saturday and make just his second international start, joining Craig Casey behind the scrum.
Nathan Doak and Harry Byrne will provide half-back cover off the bench, with Byrne set for his first Ireland cap since the 2024 Six Nations.
Stuart McCloskey and Robbie Henshaw are paired together, with Ringrose rested, while Bundee Aki is once again named on the bench in the 23 shirt.
Jamie Osborne moves from wing to full-back as Keenan drops out, with Jimmy O’Brien continuing on the right wing, and Jacob Stockdale returning to the side on the left.
Up front, Rónan Kelleher will win his 50th cap at hooker, supported by props Tom O’Toole and Thomas Clarkson, while Bohan, Illo and Tom Stewart are the front row trio on the bench.
Sean Jansen is set for his Ireland debut
Beirne comes into the starting team to captain Ireland alongside James Ryan, while Ulster’s Cormac Izuchukwu is the replacement lock, making his first appearance in an Ireland shirt since round two of the Six Nations.
Jansen’s start at number 8 sees Jack Conan move to blindside flanker, with Cian Prendergast dropping out of the squad, while Nick Timoney’s form has seen him handed a start at openside flanker.
Ireland: Jamie Osborne; Jimmy O’Brien, Robbie Henshaw, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Ciarán Frawley, Craig Casey; Tom O’Toole, Rónan Kelleher, Thomas Clarkson; Tadhg Beirne (capt), James Ryan; Jack Conan, Nick Timoney, Sean Jansen.
Replacements: Tom Stewart, Billy Bohan, Sam Illo, Cormac Izuchukwu, Bryn Ward, Nathan Doak, Harry Byrne, Bundee Aki.
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