Late change in Ireland team sees O'Mahony replace injured Conan

Joe Schmidt admitted Johnny Sexton was not happy about his omission from the Ireland squad to face World Cup hosts Japan on Saturday as he backed Jack Carty as a starting number 10.

First-choice fly-half Sexton, 34, missed training on Tuesday following a knock to his quad during Ireland’s impressive opening Pool A victory over Scotland in Yokohama last Sunday. Head coach Schmidt tends not to select players who have not taken part in every preparatory session during a match week and has instead chosen Carty after the Connacht playmaker closed out the 27-3 win as Sexton’s replacement. The Ireland boss named Munster fly-half Joey Carbery on the bench to face Japan to give him the chance of a World Cup debut in his comeback from an ankle injury sustained against Italy on August 10.