Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Belfast Live
Belfast Live
Sport
James Gould

Ireland captain James Ryan passed fit to start against Japan at The Aviva

Ireland captain James Ryan has been passed fit to start against Japan in their opening summer Test match in Dublin.

The second row was originally an injury doubt for Saturday's game, but he is now available for selection by head coach Andy Farrell.

A crowd of 3,000 spectators will be allowed in to the Aviva Stadium to watch the match, the first time fans have been at the venue since February 2020.

Ulster's Stuart McCloskey will play centre alongside Chris Farrell.

Farrell's Munster teammate Gavin Coombes is on the bench but could make his debut if called upon.

James Ryan will play with Ultan Dillane in the second row, with Peter O'Mahony starting on the blindside flank and joined in the back row by Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris.

Dave Kilcoyne, Ronan Kelleher and Finlay Bealham will play in the front row.

At half-back Jamison Gibson Park will partner Joey Carbery.

Ulster's Jacob Stockdale and Jordan Larmour start on the wing with Hugo Keenan at full-back.

Rob Herring, Ed Byrne, John Ryan, Ryan Baird, Gavin Coombes, Craig Casey, Billy Burns and Shane Daly make up the bench.

Japan battled hard against the British and Irish Lions in a 28-10 defeat in Murrayfield last weekend.

Ireland: Keenan; Stockdale; Farrell, McCloskey; Larmour; Carbery, Gibson-Park; Kilcoyne, Kelleher, Bealham; Ja Ryan (capt), Dillane; O'Mahony, van der Flier, Doris.

Replacements: Herring, E Byrne, Jo Ryan, Baird, Coombes, Casey, Burns, Daly.

Japan: Matsushima; Masirewa; Lafele, Nakamura; Fafita; Tamura, Saito; Inagaki, Sakate, Koo; van der Wald, Moore; Leitch (capt), Labuschagne, Himeno.

Replacements: Horikoshi, Millar, Ai Valu, Cornelsen, Tatafu, Shigeno, Matsuda, Gates.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.