Ireland team to face Japan - Andy Farrell awards three debuts
Rugby NewsTuesday, 07 July 2026 at 08:44
The Nations Championship rolls on at a meteoric pace, with Ireland looking to carry their winning form into the second round against Japan.
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Andy Farrell's side take on the Brave Blossoms in Newcastle, New South Wales this Saturday, following on from their thrilling opening round victory over the Wallabies. Ireland snatched a narrow 33-31 win at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney, as Australia's replacement fly half Ben Donaldson missed his last-ditch penalty attempt to hand the victory to the visitors.
Ireland head coach Farrell is set to name his team later this week, yet we have dusted off the crystal ball for a peer into the future. With a blockbuster Test match against the All Blacks at Eden Park scheduled to close out Ireland's Southern Series in a fortnight's time, we are anticipating Farrell to ring the changes for this second round clash with Japan.
Eddie Jones side will by no means be push-overs, with an impressive standard displayed in their 27-10 win over Italy in Tokyo. However, as firm favourites heading into Newcastle, we could well see several Ireland hopefuls earn their long awaited Test debuts, with well deserved rests handed out ahead of the following week's trip to Auckland. Here's RUCK's predictions for the Ireland team to face Japan.
PREDICTION: IRELAND TEAM TO FACE JAPAN - NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 2
15. HUGO KEENAN (LEINSTER)
We kick things off with Hugo Keenan retaining his spot in the Ireland back-field, after the Leinster man raced back to his very best in the Nations Championship opening round win over Australia. Player of the Match from the victory in Sydney, Keenan continues to break Aussie hearts after he bagged the series deciding try for the British & Irish Lions last Summer. The best player in green gets another rep under his belt, to build momentum heading into the Eden Park epic.
14. JIMMY O'BRIEN (LEINSTER)
We can see Jimmy O'Brien keeping hold of his starting spot out on the right wing, but there is plenty to prove if he wants to be kept in the plans for the trip to New Zealand. Whilst O'Brien showcased flashes of excitement upon the attacking side of the ball, the Leinster man was undone upon a handful of defensive errors against the likes of Max Jorgensen in Sydney. A step up is needed against Japan, to stay in the mix for the series ender.
13. GARRY RINGROSE (LEINSTER)
Another man who finds himself in the last chance saloon, following the impressive showing from Jamie Osborne this year in the United Rugby Championship. Despite being kept out the Leinster starting XV by Osborne in recent weeks, Ringrose was preferred to start against Australia, yet the regular wrecking ball did not star to his usual levels in green. We can see Ringrose getting another crack at the centres this weekend, with Osborne rested ahead of a big week ahead in New Zealand.
12. STUART MCCLOSKEY (ULSTER)
Stuart McCloskey was determined to prove that his purple patch of Ireland form throughout the 2026 Six Nations was no flash in the pan, and the Ulster midfielder was impressive against Australia in the opening round win in Sydney. With Bundee Aki waiting on the bench this week, we can see Farrell giving McCloskey 50 minutes before unleashing his Connacht powerhouse to close out the show in Newcastle.
11. JACOB STOCKDALE (ULSTER)
The first change to the starting XV, we can see Andy Farrell giving Jacob Stockdale a run out against Japan this weekend. With the back-three options shaken up following the injury to his Ulster teammate Robert Baloucoune, Stockdale was left aside for the first round match against Australia - with the versatile Jamie Osborne preferred out on the touch-line. However, with the All Blacks beckoning, we can see Stockdale getting a well deserved run out in a rotational spot against the Brave Blossoms.
10. SAM PRENDERGAST (LEINSTER)
Now, given the nature of life on tour, you would expect to see Andy Farrell hold fire on Sam Prendergast this week, and rest his number 10 ahead of the All Blacks match in a fortnight's time. However, given how underwhelming the Leinster man performed in the 2026 Six Nations, the Summer Series has been the opportune time for Prendergast to re-build his confidence at the helm of the Ireland back-line, and he would certainly benefit from getting more minutes under his belt. After the chaos of the Wallabies clash, Prendergast would love nothing more than controlling the performance against Japan, to click towards his top gear for Auckland.
9. CRAIG CASEY (MUNSTER)
The back-line concludes with Craig Casey propelled into the starting XV, after the Munster man was unused against the Wallabies in Sydney. We can see Andy Farrell handing his established first choice scrum half Jamison Gibson-Park a well earned rest this week, with Casey bumped up into the nine jersey to meet quick-ball with quicker distribution against Japan. This sees Nathan Doak earn a spot amongst the replacements, with the Ulster halfback chomping at the bit for a return to the green jersey, after making his debut in the 2026 Six Nations.
1. TOM O'TOOLE (ULSTER)
We roll onto the forward pack now, and we commence with the iron-man athlete of the win over Australia. After being taken off shortly after the half-time break, Tom O'Toole was flung back on to the fray following the concussion sustained by replacement prop Jeremy Loughman. O'Toole adapted well to the extra minutes and wrestled right the to the very end as Ireland grabbed the hard-fought win. We can see O'Toole retain his one jersey this week, with Billy Bohan of Connacht poised to make his long awaited Ireland debut from the bench.
2. RONAN KELLEHER (LEINSTER)
The second of three changes to the forward pack, sees Ronan Kelleher get a crack at the starting XV, with Ireland tour captain Dan Sheehan rotated down to the bench for the clash against Japan. In his absence, we have handed the captain's armband to Leinster stalwart Jack Conan, but more on him shortly. Kelleher ran a tight ship in the second half against Australia, and was impressive in how he steered the replacement pack through the unpredictable chaos and over the line for the opening round win in Sydney. With Sheehan expected to start against New Zealand, this is a golden opportunity for Kelleher to showcase his leadership credentials.
3. THOMAS CLARKSON (LEINSTER)
Taking the tight-head spot is Thomas Clarkson, in what completes a new-look front row for Ireland's predicted team to face Japan in Newcastle this Saturday. Clarkson was the man of the hour against Australia, with his 77th-minute heroics seeing the young tight-head prop bundle his way over the Wallabies line from close range, to level the scores at 31-31, and set-up Sam Prendergast to nail the all-important conversion for the win. Clarkson's efforts get rewarded with a spot in the starting XV to face Japan, with the experience of Tadhg Furlong on the bench for a 60th minute addition.
4. JOE MCCARTHY (LEINSTER)
The second row was one of the tougher areas to predict, given how Ireland had quite the poor showing at the line-out against the Wallabies. Changes were definitely required for the second round Nations Championship clash against Japan, with James Ryan rotated out of the match day 23 in our squad prediction, ahead of a return to face the All Blacks. Joe McCarthy was solid in Sydney, yet was by no means the elite standard that the mulletted maestro prides himself upon. A big performance against Japan, in what is an expected win would only lift his confidence for the seismic challenge of Eden Park.
5. CORMAC IZUCHUKWU (ULSTER)
Joining Joe McCarthy in the engine room is a return to the Ireland squad for Ulster's tackle machine Cormac Izuchukwu. The versatile loose forward made a sole appearence for the men in green throughout the 2026 Six Nations, before a frustrating injury prevented the impressive youngster from building to his cap tally. With adaptability akin to Tadhg Beirne across the locks and in the back row, we've picked Izuchukwu to lead the way at lock, with Beirne on the bench once again to close out the show against Japan, and gain further confidence upon his return from injury a week before the All Blacks challenge.
6. JACK CONAN (LEINSTER)
Plenty of excitement around Jack Conan this week, as the back row battler is our pick to captain Ireland against Japan. With a proven versatility to star at both number eight and on the blind-side flank, we have handed Conan the six jersey, with Connacht man Cian Prendergast rested ahead of the All Blacks clash. Conan brings steely experience to the role, and is enjoying a wave of form following a stellar outing against the Wallabies. We have also included the uncapped Ulster bolster Bryn Ward on the bench, in what would be a milestone debut for the young back row.
7. JOSH VAN DER FLIER (LEINSTER)
We expect to see the red scrum cap of Josh van der Flier once again out tearing up trees in the Nations Championship, as we've selected the Leinster man to keep a tight hold upon the seven jersey across consecutive test weeks. Van der Flier was a stand out performer from the chaos that ensued in Sydney, with an impressive contribution upon the defensive side of the ball amidst the madness of end-to-end try scoring. With two potential debutants lined up in the Ireland back row to face Japan, Farrell would need the experience of van der Flier and Conan to guide through Bryn Ward, along with the final man in our starting XV.
8. SEAN JANSEN (CONNACHT)
It could finally be the time for Sean Jansen to earn his stripes in Ireland colours, and become the latest New Zealand born star after Jamison Gibson-Park, James Lowe and Bundee Aki to make a senior test debut in the famous Emerald green. The former Otago man earned his call into Andy Farrell's squad for the Summer, having been in fine form with Connacht upon the Galway side's dramatic run-in to the URC top eight. Jansen was named in the initial Ireland squad for the Summer, with Bryn Ward only added after the injury enforced break took Caelan Doris out of action. So, Jansen seems to be the preferred back row newcomer in Andy Farrell's eyes, as we expect a debut against Japan.
REPLACEMENTS
16. DAN SHEEHAN (LEINSTER)
17. BILLY BOHAN (CONNACHT)
18. TADHG FURLONG (LEINSTER)
19. TADHG BEIRNE (MUNSTER)
20. BRYN WARD (ULSTER)
21. NATHAN DOAK (ULSTER)
22. CIARAN FRAWLEY (CONNACHT)
23. BUNDEE AKI (CONNACHT)
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