Farrell names Ireland team to face Japan in Newcastle

Pic: Irish Rugby

Munster duo Tadhg Beirne and Craig Casey will start for Ireland in Saturday’s Nations Championship clash against Japan in Newcastle.

Beirne will captain Ireland for the first time, lining out in the second row alongside James Ryan.

Scrum-half Casey has also been selected to start, as Head Coach Andy Farrell makes changes following last weekend’s bonus-point win over Australia in Sydney.

Farrell said Beirne “typifies everything” Ireland look for in a captain, praising his standards and leadership within the squad.

The match will also see hooker Rónan Kelleher make his 50th appearance for Ireland, while four players are in line to make their Test debuts.

Ireland face Japan at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday, with kick-off at 11.10am Irish time.

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).

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