Overview
- Japan will play Ireland at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, Australia, with kick-off listed as 11.10am Irish time and Andrea Piardi appointed as referee.
- Ireland have made nine changes from last week’s team and will hand Sean Jansen his debut at number eight.
- Tadhg Beirne will captain Ireland for the first time and Ciarán Frawley gets his first start at out-half.
- Japan arrive off a 27-10 win over Italy and coach Eddie Jones described the fixture as an opportunity for his young side to make history against an Irish team they have beaten only once.
- The match tests Ireland’s squad depth ahead of a trip to New Zealand and gives Japan a neutral-venue chance to build momentum in the new Nations Championship format.