Ireland team named for Japan clash at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin
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Here we go.
Head Coach Andy Farrell has named the Ireland Match Day Squad, sponsored by Vodafone, for Saturday’s Quilter Nations Series clash against Japan at Aviva Stadium.
After making his comeback from injury in Chicago last weekend, Caelan Doris returns to the Ireland starting team to captain the side, while Munster’s Tom Farrell will make his Test debut in green as he starts in midfield alongside Robbie Henshaw.
Ireland return home to Aviva Stadium for the first of three Quilter Nations Series matches this November, with limited tickets remaining for Saturday’s visit of Japan to Irish Rugby HQ.
Farrell has named Jamie Osborne, Tommy O’Brien and Jacob Stockdale in the back three, with the uncapped Farrell and Henshaw selected in the centres, while Craig Casey and Jack Crowley form the half-back pairing.
In the pack, Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher and Thomas Clarkson are the front row combination, James Ryan and Tadhg Beirne are named in the engine room and the back row is made up of Ryan Baird at blindside flanker, Nick Timoney and openside and captain Doris at number eight.
Farrell has strong options on the bench with Gus McCarthy, Paddy McCarthy, Finlay Bealham, Cian Prendergast and Jack Conan the forward replacements, while Caolin Blade, Sam Prendergast and Jimmy O’Brien provide the backline reinforcements.
Ireland (v Japan):
15. Jamie Osborne (Naas/Leinster)(9)
14. Tommy O’Brien (UCD/Leinster)(3)
13. Tom Farrell (Lansdowne/Munster)*
12. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(82)
11. Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster)(39)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(27)
9. Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster)(21)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(76)
2. Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(40)
3. Thomas Clarkson (Dublin University/Leinster)(8)
4. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)(73)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(62)
6. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(30)
7. Nick Timoney (Banbridge/Ulster)(4)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(52)(captain)
Replacements:
16. Gus McCarthy (UCD/Leinster)(6)
17. Paddy McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(1)
18. Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht)(52)
19. Cian Prendergast (UCD/Connacht)(5)
20. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(52)
21. Caolin Blade (Galwegians/Connacht)(3)
22. Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)(10)
23. Jimmy O’Brien (Naas/Leinster)(10)
* denotes uncapped
