ANDY FARRELL has named his Ireland side to face Japan this Saturday. The Irish head coach has named a strong squad for the first test at the Aviva Stadium.
This game will also mark Johnny Sexton's 100th cap in an Irish shirt.
The 36-year-old will face the Brave Blossoms in a landmark day for the fly-half. Only seven players have managed to hit the century in an Irish jersey.
Sexton is one of the 12 Leinster players who will start the clash.
📋 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
Presenting your Ireland Match Day 23 for Saturday's #AutumnNationsSeries opener against Japan at @avivastadium! 👊#TeamOfUs | #ShoulderToShoulder | #IREvJPN— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) November 4, 2021
Sexton will be partnered by half-back and Leinster team-mate Jamison Gibson-Park, with Conor Murray losing out because of a lack of game time for Munster
Since coming back from Lions duty Murray has only managed to play 20 minutes for Munster, but will most likely play in the bigger clash which is against the New Zealand
Sexton hasn't played since Ireland beat England in the Six Nations back in the spring. He missed the summer series wins of the USA and Japan due to heads troubles
Senior players Cian Healy and Keith Earls have also spent time off and returned to the side, both making the bench for the game on Saturday.
Simon Zebo who is back in Ireland and Munster has not made the squad yet and is replaced by Mack Hansen of Connacht. James Lowe is back on the wing after missing the England game and the summer games. Andrew Conyway plays right wing with Hugo Keenan deputising at full-back
Photo By Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Robbie Henshaw misses out due to a long-term foot injury. The centre duo consists of Bundee Aki and Leinsters Gary Ringrose. Andrew Porter's promising early season form following his switch back to loosehead from tighthead is rewarded with a start, and he lines up in an all-Leinster front row with hooker Ronan Kelleher and Tadhg Furlong.
Ian Henderson misses out to Tadhg Bierne. The second row partners James Ryan, while Caelan Doris at blindside makes up the back row. Josh van der Flier at openside and Jack Conan at no 8 following his three Lions Test starts against South Africa.
Henderson, Healy, Murray, Earls, Peter O'Mahony, Joey Carbery and Finlay Bealham represent experienced back-up, with one uncapped player on the bench - hooker Dan Sheehan.
Ireland: Keenan, Conway, Ringrose, Aki, Lowe, Sexton, Gibson-Park; Porter, Kelleher, Furlong, Beirne, Ryan, Doris, van der Flier, Conan.Replacements: Sheehan, Healy, Bealham, Henderson, O'Mahony, Murray, Carbery, Earls.
