James Ryan fit to skipper Ireland v Japan as no…

James Ryan fit to skipper Ireland v Japan as no debutants named in side

James Ryan gets the chance to captain Ireland after all in the upcoming summer series.

Ryan was a major doubt for Saturday's clash with Japan with an adductor injury he suffered last week in training.

Peter O'Mahony took the captain's press conference on Tuesday in place of the 24-year-old, as he was still a doubt for the clash with the Brave Blossoms at the Aviva Stadium.

However Ryan has been passed fit to play and, with O'Mahony also selected, there are five starting survivors from the team that started the disastrous defeat to Japan at the 2019 World Cup, while three more of Saturday's matchday squad came off the bench in Shizuoka.

Joey Carbery makes his first appearance in an Ireland jersey since those finals, having endured ankle and wrist injuries before returning for Munster earlier this year.

Munster's Joey Carbery (©INPHO/Bryan Keane)

Caelan Doris also makes his return to the Test arena after missing out on the Six Nations due to concussive symptoms and he is part of a back row that includes O'Mahony and Josh van der Flier.

Despite seven frontliners missing due to Lions duty in South Africa and the absence of Johnny Sexton, Cian Healy and Keith Earls from the squad, there are no debutants named in Andy Farrell's starting line-up.

The uncapped Gavin Coombes is expected to make his Test bow off the bench.

Ryan will be partnered by Ultan Dillane in the second row, while the front row will comprise of Dave Kilcoyne, Ronan Kelleher and Finlay Bealham.

In the backs, Carbery will be partnered by Jamison Gibson-Park, while Stuart McCloskey and Chris Farrell are the midfield pair, with Jacob Stockdale and Jordan Larmour on the wings and Hugo Keenan is at full-back.

Ireland team to play Japan – 3rd July 2021, Aviva Stadium

15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 11 caps

14. Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 29 caps

13. Chris Farrell (Munster/Young Munster) 14 caps

12. Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor) 4 caps

11. Jacob Stockdale (Ulster/Lurgan) 34 caps

10. Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 22 caps

9. Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 9 caps

1. Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 43 caps

2. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 11 caps

3. Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 14 caps

4. Ultan Dillane (Connacht/Corinthians) 18 caps