Sexton: 'Fingers crossed' Beirne cleared as Ireland weigh changes for Japan

"If you look at it in real time, it looks very different to how it looked when you slow things down," Johnny Sexton said about Tadhg Beirne's red card against the All Blacks.

Ireland coach Johnny Sexton suggested there will be changes to the team which faces Japan from the one defeated by the All Blacks. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Ireland’s coaching group are hoping Tadhg Beirne will be available for selection against Japan in Dublin this Saturday following his 20-minute red card against New Zealand in Chicago last weekend.

Beirne faces a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday night into his dismissal by match referee Pierre Brousset after just three minutes of the Test match at Soldier Field. The dismissal was a controversial one after Beirne’s shoulder made contact high on ball carrier Beauden Barrett, with the All Blacks fly-half suggesting he would offer mitigation to his opponent for what was deemed by many observers as a rugby incident.