Tadhg Beirne captains rotated Ireland for Japan clash

Tadhg Beirne of Ireland during the 2026 Nations Championship Round One match between Australia and Ireland. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Ireland might be wary of Japan, but that hasn’t stopped Andy Farrell from ringing the changes for Saturday’s Nations Championship Test in Newcastle.

Despite Japan toppling Italy 27-10, Farrell has used the second Test on tour as an opportunity to test his wider squad depth and give a much-needed rest for some of his regular stars ahead of next week’s season finale against the All Blacks at Eden Park.

Indeed, there’s nine new faces to the starting XV for this weekend’s clash and several more on the bench, including some for the first time in an Irish jersey.

Connacht loose-forward Sean Jansen is the only debutant named to start, but his provincial teammates, props Billy Bohan and Sam Illo, will come off the bench for the first time. Bryn Ward is the only other debutant, with the Ulster back-rower to also come off the bench.

Prop Tom O’Toole, lock James Ryan, back-rower Jack Conan, centre Stuart McCloskey and outside backs Jimmy O’Brien and Jamie Osborne are the only men to retain their spots in the starting side from the one that beat the Wallabies 33-31.

Tadhg Beirne will lead Ireland out for the first time having previously taken over the on-field captaincy, while hooker Rónan Kelleher will play his 50th Test after being called into the starting side, with Dan Sheehan being rested. Tom Stewart comes onto the bench as cover.

Thomas Clarkson, who scored the match-winning try last week, joins Kelleher and O’Toole in the front-row, while Beirne partners Ryan in the second-row.

The back-row has also been tweaked, with Jack Conan moving to blindside flanker and Nick Timoney and Jansen joining him.

There is also a new-look half-back pairing for Ireland as Craig Casey and Ciaran Frawley are selected to start, with Jamison Gibson-Park and Sam Prendergast rested.

Robbie Henshaw partners McCloskey in the midfield, while Jacob Stockdale comes onto the wing and Jamie Osborne shifts to fullback for the rested Hugo Keenan.

The uncapped forward trio of Bohan, Illo and Ward are joined on the bench by Stewart and Cormac Izuchukwu, while Nathan Doak, Harry Byrne and Bundee Aki are the backline options available to Farrell.

Already Japan coach Eddie Jones has turned the heat on Farrell’s side, saying he expects to “dominate the Irish scrum” in the second-half.

Japan are seeking their first win over Ireland since the 2019 World Cup.

Ireland comfortably put Japan away at home last year, winning 41-10.

While Farrell has rung the changes, the Japan Test represents a golden opportunity to apply some pressure and mount a case to start more regular.

Loose-forward Timoney, who has been a mainstay off the bench this year, spoke of the desire to force his way into the starting side despite recognising the importance of coming on and making a difference in the second half.

“I've loved being on the bench. It's a really enjoyable thing to come on and feel like you can try and make a difference. But you certainly never want to be the guy who's accepting of being on the bench. So, you've got to keep pushing as well,” Timoney said earlier this week.

Ireland: Jamie Osborne; Jimmy O’Brien, Robbie Henshaw, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Ciarán Frawley, Craig Casey; Tom O’Toole, Rónan Kelleher, Thomas Clarkson; Tadhg Beirne (capt), James Ryan; Jack Conan, Nick Timoney, Sean Jansen.

Replacements: Tom Stewart, Billy Bohan, Sam Illo, Cormac Izuchukwu, Bryn Ward, Nathan Doak, Harry Byrne, Bundee Aki.