Four players are set to make their debuts for a much-changed Ireland side in Saturday’s Nations Championship game against Japan in Australia.

Having beaten Australia 33-31 in a dramatic opener on Saturday, Ireland boss Andy Farrell has made nine alterations to his starting line-up before next week’s blockbuster Auckland meeting with the All Blacks.

Connacht’s Sean Jansen will earn his Test debut from the start at number eight, while club team-mates Billy Bohan and Sam Illo have been picked as replacement props.

Ulster back row Bryn Ward is also poised to make his international bow at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle (11:10 BST) after being named on the bench.

“It’s always a special occasion when you give one person a debut, never mind four,” said Farrell.

“[I’m] really looking forward to how they apply themselves to attacking the game because that’s the roles they’re able to add to the team.

“Huge congratulations to the four of them. It’s business time now, they need to rip in.”

Influential Munster forward Tadhg Beirne will captain Ireland from the start for the first time, with tour skipper Dan Sheehan one of several players rested for the game in Newcastle.

Forwards Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy and Josh van der Flier and backs Jamison Gibson-Park, Sam Prendergast, Garry Ringrose and Hugo Keenan have also been given the week off.

Ciaran Frawley has been handed his first Test start at fly-half as part of a new-look half-back pairing with Craig Casey.

It is only for the second international start for Frawley – who has left Leinster for Connacht – after a run-out at full-back against Wales in the 2024 Six Nations.

Jacob Stockdale and Jimmy O’Brien are selected on the wings with Jamie Osborne moved to full-back after starting the Australia game on the left wing, while Stuart McCloskey and Robbie Henshaw form an experienced centre partnership.

Props Tom O’Toole and Thomas Clarkson – who scored the decisive late try against Australia – start in the front row alongside hooker Ronan Kelleher, who wins his 50th cap.

Beirne is partnered by James Ryan in an experienced second row, while Jack Conan moves from number eight to blind-side flanker to accommodate Jansen’s inclusion, with Nick Timoney selected at open-side.

Farrell’s bench is largely inexperienced at this level. In addition to the uncapped Bohan, Illo and Ward, Ulster pair Tom Stewart and Cormac Izuchukwu are named as pack replacements.

Scrum-half Nathan Doak is set to earn his second cap off the bench with back-up fly-half Harry Byrne poised to make his first Ireland appearance since 2024, while Bundee Aki rounds out the matchday squad.

Ireland beat Japan 41-10 when the sides met in Dublin in November. Japan’s only victory in 11 meetings with Ireland was a memorable 19-12 success at the 2019 World Cup in Shizuoka.

Eddie Jones’ Brave Blossoms beat Italy 27-10 in their Nations Championship opener in Tokyo.

Ireland: Jamie Osborne; Jimmy O’Brien, Robbie Henshaw, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Ciaran Frawley, Craig Casey; Tom O’Toole, Ronan 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.