Northern Edition
Select Edition
Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Ireland XV to play Japan shows 11 changes from win over England

(Photo by PA)

Andy Farrell has changed eleven of the starting Ireland XV to face Japan this Saturday in Dublin 15 weeks after England were beaten at the Aviva Stadium in the final round of the Guinness Six Nations. The four starters who remain from that impressive March victory are Hugo Keenan, Jacob Stockdale, Dave Kilcoyne and Josh van der Flier.

ADVERTISEMENT

With Ireland having seven players away with the Lions in South Africa, CJ Stander now retired and veteran pair Johnny Sexton and Keith Earls both given the summer off, Farrell was always going to make wholesale changes to his line-up.

One familiar face who is back in the mix, however, is James Ryan. He missed the finale to the Six Nations with a concussion and while a soft tissue injury last week ruled him out from consideration by the Lions to possibly replace the injured Alun Wyn Jones over the weekend, he has now shaken off that injury and will skipper the team against the Japanese.

Video Spacer

Conor Murray gives his first interview as Lions tour captain in South Africa

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      Video Spacer

      Conor Murray gives his first interview as Lions tour captain in South Africa

      Four of the bench from the England win are also promoted to the starting line-up – Ronan Kelleher, who was with the Lions for their training camp in Jersey, Peter O’Mahony, Jamison Gibson-Park and Jordan Larmour.

      The most exciting inclusion, however, is the restoration of Joey Carbery at out-half following his horrible run of injury. The 25-year-old earned the last of his 22 caps in the October 2019 World Cup quarter-final hammering by New Zealand.

      Other intriguing XV selections are Finlay Bealham, Caelan Doris and Stuart McCloskey. Bealham had a terrible afternoon at the scrum when he was last capped versus Georgia in the Autumn Nations Cup, Doris has managed to overcome a worrying layoff with concussion while McCloskey is also back in the mix following the problems caused for him by the Georgians eight months ago.

      John Ryan and Rob Herring are the most experienced players on an experimental bench where back-rower Gavin Coombes is set for a debut cap

      ADVERTISEMENT

      IRELAND (vs Japan, Saturday)
      15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 11 caps
      14. Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 29 caps
      13. Chris Farrell (Munster/Young Munster) 14 caps
      12. Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor) 4 caps
      11. Jacob Stockdale (Ulster/Lurgan) 34 caps
      10. Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 22 caps
      9. Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 9 caps
      1. Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 43 caps
      2. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 11 caps
      3. Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 14 caps
      4. Ultan Dillane (Connacht/Corinthians) 18 caps
      5. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 35 caps captain
      6. Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 75 caps
      7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 31 caps
      8. Caelan Doris (Leinster/UCD) 7 caps

      Replacements
      16. Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 21 caps
      17. Ed Byrne (Leinster/UCD) 4 caps
      18. John Ryan (Munster/Cork Constitution) 23 caps
      19. Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University) 3 caps
      20. Gavin Coombes (Munster/Young Munster) uncapped
      21. Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) 1 cap
      22. Billy Burns (Ulster) 6 caps
      23. Shane Daly (Munster/Cork Constitution) 1 cap

      ADVERTISEMENT

      Top 10 inspiring Lions speeches

      United States of Rugby | Episode 1 – Welcome to Dawgtown

      Top 10 Best Lions Tries of the 2000s

      Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo vs Kubota Spears | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 Final | Full Match Replay

      Saitama Wild Knights vs Kobe Steelers | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 Bronze Final | Full Match Replay

      Boks Office | Episode 42 | Investec Champions Cup Final Review

      Spain's Incredible Rugby Sevens Journey to the World Championship Final | HSBC SVNS Embedded | Episode 14

      The Game that Made Jonah Lomu

      Trending on RugbyPass

      Comments

      0 Comments
      Be the first to comment...

      Join free and tell us what you really think!

      Sign up for free
      ADVERTISEMENT

      Latest Features

      Comments on RugbyPass

      TRENDING
      TRENDING Second Leinster player agrees Gloucester switch Second Leinster player agrees Gloucester switch
      Search