​Four players are poised to make their debuts for a significantly altered Ireland team in Saturday’s Nations Championship clash with Japan in Australia. After Ireland’s dramatic 33-31 opening win against Australia on Saturday, head coach Andy Farrell has reshuffled nine starters ahead of next week’s top-tier showdown with the All Blacks in Auckland. Connacht’s Sean Jansen is set to start at number eight for his Test debut, while Billy Bohan and Sam Illo, fellow Connacht teammates, are named among the replacement props. Ulster back-rower Bryn Ward is also in line for his international bow, having been named on the bench.
Beirne, who is expected to assume the captaincy for the first time, will lead Ireland from the outset as tour captain Dan Sheehan is rested for the Newcastle game. In a wider reshuffle, several forwards — including Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, and Josh van der Flier — along with backs Jamison Gibson-Park, Sam Prendergast, Garry Ringrose, and Hugo Keenan — have been given the week off.
The backline features Ciaran Frawley in his first Test start at fly-half, forming a new-look half-back pairing with Craig Casey. It marks only Frawley’s second international start after switching from Leinster to Connacht, following his earlier appearance at full-back against Wales in the 2024 Six Nations. Jacob Stockdale and Jimmy O’Brien line up on the wings, with Jamie Osborne moving to full-back after starting the Australia match on the left wing. An experienced centre combination of Stuart McCloskey and Robbie Henshaw provides stability in the middle.
In the pack, props Tom O’Toole and Thomas Clarkson will partner hooker Ronan Kelleher in the front row, the latter earning his 50th cap. Beirne is paired with James Ryan in the second row for a seasoned combination, while Jack Conan shifts from number eight to blind-side flanker to accommodate Jansen’s inclusion, with Nick Timoney starting at open-side.
Farrell’s bench is notably inexperienced at this level. Alongside the uncapped Bohan and Illo, Ulster’s Tom Stewart and Cormac Izuchukwu are named as forward replacements. Scrum-half Nathan Doak is set to win his second cap from the bench, with back-up fly-half Harry Byrne preparing for his first Ireland appearance since 2024, and Bundee Aki completing the matchday squad.
Ireland defeated Japan 41-10 when the teams previously met in Dublin last November. Japan’s sole victory over Ireland across 11 meetings came in a memorable 19-12 World Cup win in Shizuoka in 2019. Ireland will be eager to build on that recent success as they aim to maintain momentum against the Japanese side in this fixture. The Ireland starting lineup features Jamie Osborne at full-back, with Jimmy O’Brien and Robbie Henshaw forming the outside and inside channels in the back three and midfield, respectively, while Stockdale and O’Brien provide pace and threat on the wings. The early-season emphasis is on blooding new talent while maintaining a backbone of experienced internationals to navigate a testing opponent in Japan.