Quilter Nations Series: Ireland v Japan

The Ireland Men’s team (sponsored by Vodafone) will play at the Aviva Stadium for the first time in eight months, as they begin their run of Quilter Nations Series matches against Japan. Limited tickets are available to buy here.

2025 QUILTER NATIONS SERIES:

Saturday, November 8 –

IRELAND v JAPAN, Aviva Stadium, 12.40pm (live RTÉ 2/RTÉ Player/TNT Sports/RTÉ Radio 1 Extra/BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 3/BBC Radio Ulster/BBC Sounds/IRFU Live Blog)

Coming To The Match? All You Need To Know For Ireland v Japan

Opta Facts: Quilter Nations Series – Ireland v Japan

Team News: After making his comeback from a shoulder injury in Chicago last weekend, Caelan Doris returns to the starting XV to captain Ireland, while Tom Farrell (pictured below) will make his Test debut alongside Robbie Henshaw in midfield.

There are eight changes in personnel from the 26-13 defeat to New Zealand, four of which are in the back-line. With Stuart McCloskey nursing a groin injury, Henshaw starts in a new centre partnership with Dubliner Farrell, who has impressed in the red of Munster.

Ulster’s Jacob Stockdale has been added to the back-three, linking up with Jamie Osborne and Tommy O’Brien, while Jack Crowley, winning his 28th international cap, will have provincial college Craig Casey as his half-back partner.

Head coach Andy Farrell has altered all three lines of the forward pack, with Rónan Kelleher and Thomas Clarkson replacing Dan Sheehan, last Saturday’s captain, and try scorer Tadhg Furlong in the front row.

Andrew Porter, James Ryan, and Tadhg Beirne, who had his red card rescinded on Tuesday, complete the tight five, while Nick Timoney gets the nod in the back row, alongside Ryan Baird and Doris, for his second international start of the calendar year.

Paddy McCarthy, fresh from his debut against the All Blacks, retains his place on Ireland’s bench. The other forward replacements are Gus McCarthy, Finlay Bealham, Cian Prendergast, and Jack Conan, and the back-line cover is provided by Caolin Blade, Sam Prendergast, and Jimmy O’Brien.

Looking forward to the visit of the Brave Blossoms, Andy Farrell said: “I have been pleased with the application and diligence of the squad this week. Since returning from Chicago on Monday morning, the squad have assessed the areas we need to collectively improve upon.

“It will be a battle against a Japan side who play the game in a positive manner and will look to ask questions of us. From our side, we will look to be sharp and implement our game-plan and we’re preparing for a big test.

“Tom (Farrell) becomes our latest debutant and his is a real ‘Roy of the Rovers’ story when you look at his journey in the game to this point.

“Tom has worked really hard to earn the right to represent his country, and I know how proud he is to be involved this weekend after knocking on the selection door for the last few seasons. In congratulating him on his selection, I would like to wish him the best of luck.

“Saturday presents us with an opportunity to play in front of a packed Aviva Stadium. Playing at home is a privilege that we never take lightly, and it’s the start of an exciting three weeks of games as we look to build momentum.”

Meanwhile, Japan head coach Eddie Jones has made three changes to the team that lost 61-7 to South Africa at Wembley Stadium, including bringing in Toulouse scrum half Naoto Saito for his 25th international cap.

Epineri Uluiviti and Faulua Makisi beef up the pack, replacing Jack Cornelsen and Michael Leitch. Leitch, the only survivor from Japan’s historic win over Ireland at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, is on the bench as he prepares to play in his 92nd Test.

The New Zealand-born Warner Dearns, who moved to Japan at the age of 14, captains Jones’ charges from the second row. He is supported by vice-captains Seung-sin Lee, who has kicked 84 points in his last eight Tests, and Dylan Riley.

Saito’s selection sees Shinobu Fujiwara drop to the replacements, with his Kubota Spears club-mate, centre Yuya Hirose, joining him as a bench option. Utility back Shinya Komura is standing by to make his international bow.

IRELAND: Jamie Osborne (Naas RFC/Leinster); Tommy O’Brien (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Tom Farrell (Lansdowne FC/Munster), Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers RFC/Leinster), Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan RFC/Ulster); Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution FC/Munster), Craig Casey (Shannon RFC/Munster); Andrew Porter (UCD RFC/Leinster), Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne FC/Leinster), Thomas Clarkson (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), James Ryan (UCD RFC/Leinster), Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne FC/Munster), Ryan Baird (Dublin University FC/Leinster), Nick Timoney (Banbridge RFC/Ulster), Caelan Doris (St. Mary’s College RFC/Leinster) (capt).

Replacements: Gus McCarthy (UCD RFC/Leinster), Paddy McCarthy (Dublin University FC/Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), Cian Prendergast (UCD RFC/Connacht), Jack Conan (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Caolin Blade (Galwegians RFC/Connacht), Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne FC/Leinster), Jimmy O’Brien (Naas RFC/Leinster).

JAPAN: Yoshitaka Yazaki (Waseda University); Kippei Ishida (Yokohama Canon Eagles), Dylan Riley (Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights), Charlie Lawrence (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars), Tomoki Osada (Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights); Seung-sin Lee (Kobelco Kobe Steelers), Naoto Saito (Stade Toulousain); Kenta Kobayashi (Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath), Kenji Sato (Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights), Shuhei Takeuchi (Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath), Epineri Uluiviti (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars), Warner Dearns (Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo) (capt), Ben Gunter (Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights), Kanji Shimokawa (Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath), Faulua Makisi (Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay).

Replacements: Shodai Hirao (Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath), Ryosuke Iwaihara (Yokohama Canon Eagles), Keijiro Tamefusa (Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay), Jack Cornelsen (Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights), Michael Leitch (Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo), Shinobu Fujiwara (Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay), Shinya Komura (Toyota Verblitz), Yuya Hirose (Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay).

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)
Assistant Referees: Andrea Piardi, Federico Vedovelli (both FIR)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
FPRO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)

Pre-Match Quotes: Caelan Doris (Ireland) –

If you look back to 2021, this game (against Japan) was Johnny Sexton’s 100th cap and I think this game probably put us on an upward trajectory.

“There have been some positives over the last year or two, we’ve had some big wins and some big performances but probably been inconsistent. There’s recognition of a bit of a reset at the minute.

“There’s no lack of belief or doubt in our potential and in what we can do. It’s just about getting out and delivering on it. Hopefully there will be an upward trajectory from here as well.

“Japan work extremely hard regardless of the scoreline, they stay in it both sides of the ball. Pretty relentless work-rate. Their attack is going to be a test for us. Guys like (Faulua) Makisi, both their centres, very direct strong carriers, but they also have the ability to play deep and wide.

“That was one of the big takeaways from last weekend, we felt we were quite passive defensively, particularly in that last quarter. So trying to get a bit more linespeed in this week will be a focus.”

Eddie Jones (Japan) –

While set-piece will always be a factor, the two big contest areas will be the aerial contest and the breakdown contest. That’s fairly consistent in rugby at the moment.

“The ability to win back to back possession between winning a contest kick puts you in a good field position from which to attack.

“Then you have to generate quick ruck ball to break down defences. For both teams, those will be the key areas of the game this weekend.”

Pre-Match Links –

Recent Meetings –

2019: Rugby World Cup Pool A: Japan 19 Ireland 12, Ecopa Stadium, Shizuoka

2020: Vodafone Summer Series: Ireland 39 Japan 31, Aviva Stadium

2021: Autumn Nations Series: Ireland 60 Japan 5, Aviva Stadium

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