Rugby | Ireland makes six changes for test against Japan

Ireland and Japan players vie for the ball on a throw-in during a test in Shizuoka, southwest of Tokyo, last Saturday

Ireland coach Joe Schmidt made six changes to his starting lineup to face Japan in tomorrow’s rugby test, the final of the visitor’s three- match summer tour.

Kieran Treadwell and James Tracy come in for their first starts. Treadwell won his first cap off the bench during last week’s 50-22 win over Japan

Josh van der Flier returns at openside flanker while Luke Marshall and Jacob Stockdale return at outside center and on the left wing, respectively.

Keith Earls returns to the right side and Andrew Conway takes over the fullback position vacated by the injured Simon Zebo.

Meanwhile, lock Luke Thompson has been recalled by Japan head coach Jamie Joseph.

Wing Akihito Yamada, back from injury, and flanker Shokei Kin were also added to the squad for the test against their 2019 World Cup pool rivals.

Wing Shota Emi, flanker Hendrik Tui and center Timothy Lafaele are out with injuries, while William Tupou is unavailable after he was given a three-match ban for a dangerous play during the loss to Ireland last weekend. AP

Teams

JAPAN: Ryuji Noguchi, Akihito Yamada, Kotaro Matsushima, Yu Tamura, Kenki Fukuoka, Jumpei Ogura, Yutaka Nagare, Amanaki Lelei Mafi, Shuhei Matsuhashi, Michael Leitch, Uwe Helu, Luke Thompson, Takuma Asahara, Yusuke Niwai, Shintaro Ishihara. Reserves: Shota Horie, Keita Inagaki, Takayuki Watanabe, Kotaro Yatabe, Yoshitaka Tokunaga, Fumiaki Tanaka, Rikiya Matsuda, Ryohei Yamanaka.

IRELAND: Andrew Conway, Keith Earls, Garry Ringrose, Luke Marshall, Jacob Stockdale, Paddy Jackson, Kieran Marmion, Cian Healy, James Tracy, John Ryan, Kieran Treadwell, Devin Toner, Rhys Ruddock (captain), Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan. Reserves: Niall Scannell, Dave Kilcoyne, Andrew Porter, James Ryan, Sean Reidy, John Cooney, Rory Scannell, Tiernan O’Halloran.