Schmidt Names Team for Japan Test

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has announced the team to face Japan in Shizuoka on Saturday in the second Test of the three-match tour.

There are six changes to the side that started last weekend's 55-19 victory over the USA in New Jersey, with Andrew Conway, Rory Scannell, Luke McGrath and Dan Leavy all coming in for their first starts.

Simon Zebo starts in an all Munster back-three, alongside last week's man-of-the-match Keith Earls and Andrew Conway.

Rory Scannell partners Leinster centre Garry Ringrose in midfield after a brief introduction together in the Red Bull Arena last weekend.

Former Ireland U20 team-mates McGrath and Paddy Jackson will fill the half-back berths against one of Ireland's Rugby World Cup 2019 pool opponents.

The same front-five are retained, Quinn Roux and Devin Toner will get a second successive outing in the Irish engine room.

After awarding five new caps last weekend, Ulster lock Kieran Treadwell & Leinster utility back Rory O' Loughlin are standing by to make their Ireland debuts.

Ireland: 

15 Simon Zebo, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Rory Scannell, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Luke McGrath

8 Jack Conan, 7 Dan Leavy, 6 Rhys Ruddock (c), 5 Devin Toner, 4 Quinn Roux, 3 John Ryan, 2 Niall Scannell, 1 Cian Healy

Replacements: 16 James Tracy, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Kieran Treadwell, 20 Jack O'Donoghue, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Rory O'Loughlin, 23 Tiernan O'Halloran

Date: Saturday, June 17
Venue: Ecopa Stadium, Shizuoka
Kick-off: 14:00 local (06:00 GMT)
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)