Johnny Sexton will captain Ireland for his 100th appearance against Japan on Sunday night as Andy Farrell has named his squad for Saturday’s game with Japan.
Sexton is joined at half-back by Jamison Gibson Park with Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose reunited in the centre for the first time since the Six Nations fixture against Italy in October 2020.
Hugo Keenan starts at fullback in his 14th consecutive game for Ireland and is supported in the backfield by Andrew Conway and James Lowe.
Andrew Porter makes his first international start at loosehead in a front row containing Ronan Kelleher and Tadhg Furlong who wins his 15th cap. James Ryan and Tadhg Beirne are named at lock and the Leinster trio of Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan make up the backrow.
The replacements named for Saturday’s game are uncapped hooker Dan Sheehan, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery and Keith Earls.
Ireland
- Hugo Keenan
- Andrew Conway
- Garry Ringrose
- Bundee Aki
- James Lowe
- Johnny Sexton (C)
- Jamison Gibson Park
- Andrew Porter
- Ronan Kelleher
- Tadhg Furlong
- Tadhg Beirne
- James Ryan
- Caelan Doris
- Josh van der Flier
- Jack Conan
Replacements
- Dan Sheehan
- Cian Healy
- Finlay Bealham
- Iain Henderson
- Peter O’Mahony
- Conor Murray
- Joey Carbery
- Keith Earls
Ireland v Japan
Aviva Stadium, 6 November 2021
Kick-off: 1pm
