Rugby-Ireland named four uncapped players in match-day 23 to face Japan


July 9 (Reuters) - Ireland ⁠are set to hand first caps to four ⁠players after coach Andy Farrell named his side ‌to face Japan in their Nations Championship clash in Newcastle, Australia, on Saturday, including a start for number eight Sean Jansen.

• ​Uncapped props Billy Bohan and Sam ⁠Illo and back row ⁠Bryn Ward have all been named as replacements for ⁠the fixture ‌and are set to make their international bow from the bench.

• Having started on ⁠the left wing in the bonus-point, 33-31 ​win over Australia ‌in Sydney, Jamie Osborne switches to full-back in ⁠a back ​three alongside wings Jimmy O’Brien and Jacob Stockdale

• Robbie Henshaw comes into the midfield to partner Stuart McCloskey ⁠at centre, while there is also ​a new half-back pairing with Craig Casey and flyhalf Ciaran Frawley starting.

• Jack Conan switches to blindside flanker, with ⁠Nick Timoney named at openside and Jansen completing Ireland’s back row.

• Starting XV: 15-Jamie Osborne, 14-Jimmy O’Brien, 13-Robbie Henshaw, 12-Stuart McCloskey, 11-Jacob Stockdale, 10-Ciaran Frawley, 9-Craig ​Casey, 8-Sean Jansen, 7-Nick Timoney, 6-Jack ⁠Conan, 5-James Ryan, 4-Tadhg Beirne (captain), 3-Thomas Clarkson, 2-Ronan Kelleher, ​1-Tom O’Toole

• Replacements: 16-Tom Stewart, ‌17-Billy Bohan, 18-Sam Illo, 19-Cormac Izuchukwu, ​20-Bryn Ward, 21-Nathan Doak, 22-Harry Byrne, 23-Bundee Aki.

(Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Thomas Derpinghaus)

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