Ireland have made nine changes for their Nations Championship test against Japan on Saturday.
Tadhg Beirne will lead Ireland out for the first time. Beirne has previously held the on-field captaincy. Whereas, hooker Rónan Kelleher will reach the milestone of 50 Test caps.
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.
Whereas, Connacht team-mates Billy Bohan and Sam Illo set for their first appearances in green off the bench.
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. It’s 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. Whereas, 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. Whereas, Nathan Doak, Harry Byrne and Bundee Aki are the backline options available to Farrell.
Ireland: 15. Jamie Osborne, 14. Jimmy O’Brien, 13. Robbie Henshaw, 12. Stuart McCloskey, 11. Jacob Stockdale, 10. Ciaran Frawley, 9. Craig Casey, 1. Tom O’Toole, 2. Rónan Kelleher, 3. Thomas Clarkson, 4. Tadhg Beirne (C), 5. James Ryan, 6. Jack Conan, 7. Nick Timoney, 8. Sean Jansen.
Replacements: 16. Tom Stewart, 17. Billy Bohan, 18. Sam Illo, 19. Cormac Izuchukwu, 20. Bryn Ward, 21. Nathan Doak, 22. Harry Byrne, 23. Bundee Aki
Japan v Ireland
Saturday July 11
McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
Kick-off: 8.10pm local time/11.10am Irish time
