It is a big welcome back to fans at the Aviva Stadium as Ireland kick off their Vodafone Summer Series against Japan, whose last Test match in Dublin was over 20 years ago.
2021 VODAFONE SUMMER SERIES: Saturday, July 3
IRELAND v JAPAN, Aviva Stadium, 1pm (live RTÉ 2/RTÉ Player/Channel 4/RTÉ Radio 1 Extra/IRFU Live Blog)
Are you one of the lucky 3,000 spectators coming to the Aviva Stadium today? Watch our video and make note of the safety protocols in place for the match.
Ireland v Japan – IRFU Digital Match Programme
Team News: Back to full fitness, James Ryan will captain Ireland for the third time today, joining forces with Connacht’s Ultan Dillane in the second row.
Caelan Doris makes his international return at number 8, having missed the 2021 Six Nations. Peter O’Mahony, with 75 caps to his name, and Josh van der Flier complete the back row.
Fresh from his training stint with the British & Irish Lions in Jersey, 23-year-old hooker Ronan Kelleher will have Dave Kilcoyne and Finlay Bealham either side of him in the front row.
Munster’s Joey Carbery ends his long injury-enforced absence since the 2019 Rugby World Cup, as he gets his first run-out at half-back – alongside Jamison Gibson-Park – of Andy Farrell’s coaching reign.
Ulster natives Chris Farrell and Stuart McCloskey are paired together in a powerful centre combination, while Hugo Keenan continues at full-back, anchoring the back-three alongside Jack Stockdale and Jordan Larmour.
Munster’s free-scoring back rower Gavin Coombes could make his debut from the bench, and fellow replacements Ryan Baird, Craig Casey and Shane Daly have five caps between them.
Second row Ryan, who led Ireland against England and Georgia last November, is one of five players who started against Japan in the 2019 Rugby World Cup pool game. The others are O’Mahony, van der Flier, Farrell and Stockdale.
Meanwhile, Japan head coach Jamie Joseph has made three personnel changes and one positional switch to the side that started last week’s 28-10 defeat to the British & Irish Lions in Edinburgh.
Notably, Clermont Auvergne star Kotaro Matsushima moves to full-back for his first international appearance in the number 15 jersey since a win over Italy in Kobe three years ago.
The Fijian-born Semisi Masirewa, who has Super Rugby experience with Western Force and the Sunwolves, comes onto the right wing for his Japan debut.
Suntory’s 23-year-old scrum half Naoto Saito makes his first start following his debut off the bench against the Lions. Highlanders’ Kazuki Himeno packs down at number 8.
Nine players are retained as starters from that memorable World Cup encounter in 2019, including centres Timothy Lafaele and Ryoto Nakamura, as well as props Keita Inagaki and Jiwon Koo.
IRELAND: Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster); Jordan Larmour (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Chris Farrell (Young Munster/Munster), Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster), Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster); Joey Carbery (Clontarf/Munster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster); Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster), Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht), Ultan Dillane (Galway Corinthians/Connacht), James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) (capt), Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster), Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster), Caelan Doris (UCD/Leinster).
Replacements: Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Ed Byrne (UCD/Leinster), John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster), Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster), Gavin Coombes (Young Munster/Munster), Craig Casey (/Shannon/Munster), Billy Burns (Ulster), Shane Daly (Cork Constitution/Munster).
JAPAN: Kotaro Matsushima (Clermont Auvergne); Semisi Masirewa (Kintetsu Liners), Timothy Lafaele (Kobelco Steelers), Ryoto Nakamura (Suntory Sungoliath), Siosaia Fifita (Tenri University/Kintetsu Liners); Yu Tamura (Canon Eagles), Naoto Saito (Suntory Sungoliath); Keita Inagaki (Panasonic Wild Knights), Atsushi Sakate (Panasonic Wild Knights), Jiwon Koo (Honda Heat), Wimpie van der Walt (NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes), James Moore (Munakata Sanix Blues), Michael Leitch (Toshiba Brave Lupus) (capt), Lappies Labuschagné (Kubota Spears), Kazuki Himeno (Toyota Verblitz/Highlanders).
Replacements: Kosuke Horikoshi (Suntory Sungoliath), Craig Millar (Panasonic Wild Knights), Asaeli Ai Valu (Panasonic Wild Knights), Jack Cornelsen (Panasonic Wild Knights), Tevita Tatafu (Suntory Sungoliath), Kaito Shigeno (Toyota Verblitz), Rikiya Matsuda (Panasonic Wild Knights), Shane Gates (NTT Communications Shining Arcs).
Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
Assistant Referees: Luke Pearce (England), Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Television Match Official: Claire Hodnett (England)
Pre-Match Quotes: Andy Farrell (Ireland) –
I’m excited across the board to see how the team performs because there’s so many different ramifications that are happening throughout the side.
“It has been a delight to be involved in the group. It’s such a diverse group, it’s such a different group to what we’ve been used to in the past. The opportunities are fantastic for us.
“Japan can beat anyone on any given day as they proved in the World Cup with us. They’re a quality side that are just going to keep getting better and better.
“This is a proper Test match for our boys and as I said, a different group. A diverse group that’s got a challenge on their hands at the weekend.”
Jamie Joseph (Japan) –
Having not played Test match rugby for 20 months, I was happy with the team’s performance against the British & Irish Lions last Saturday.
“This weekend against Ireland we will look to where we can create pressure, and through that pressure, give ourselves an opportunity to win the match.”
Pre-Match Links –
Ireland v Japan: Coming To Aviva Stadium – Safety Video
Ireland v Japan IRFU Digital Match Programme
Irish Rugby TV: Simon Easterby On Japan Challenge
In Pics: Ireland Captain’s Run At Aviva Stadium
‘Joey Looks In Fine Fettle’ – Farrell
Recent Meetings –
2017: Summer Tour First Test: Japan 22 Ireland 50, Ecopa Stadium, Shizuoka; Summer Tour Second Test: Japan 13 Ireland 35, Ajinomoto Stadium, Tokyo
2019: Rugby World Cup Pool A: Japan 19 Ireland 12, Ecopa Stadium, Shizuoka
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