Autumn Test Match: Ireland v Japan

Captain Ciara Griffin and head coach Adam Griggs both bid a fond farewell to the Ireland Women’s set-up as the team wraps up the calendar year against Japan at the RDS.

AUTUMN TEST MATCH: Saturday, November 20

IRELAND WOMEN v JAPAN WOMEN, the RDS, 3pm (live RTÉ 2/RTÉ Radio 1)

Team News: Kerry woman Griffin will captain Ireland in her final game in the green jersey, after announcing earlier this week that she is retiring from international rugby.

Tickets for today’s game at the RDS, which are priced between €5 and €10, are available to buy here from Ticketmaster.ie.

Tickets are selling well and walk-up sales will also be available (card/contactless only) through the Ticketmaster main office on Anglesea Road and at the Wiley Gate.

Head coach Griggs, who is taking charge of the team for the final time,  has named three uncapped players in the matchday 23, as the coaching staff take the opportunity to explore squad depth.

Leinster duo Mary Healy and Ella Roberts and Connacht back Shannon Touhey are all included for the first time and will be hoping to make an impact off the bench.

Munster’s Aoife Doyle makes a welcome return to the starting XV and is joined in the back-three by Lauren Delany and Laura Sheehan, who are retained from last Friday’s 20-10 win over the USA at the same venue.

Eimear Considine and Sene Naoupu continue their centre partnership, but there is a new-look half-back pairing with Enya Breen combining with Kathryn Dane to lead the Irish back-line.

It is Breen’s first start in the number 10 jersey and an invaluable chance for the 22-year-old west Cork native to build her Test experience.

Breen comes in at out-half for Stacey Flood who is not involved as she joins Beibhinn Parsons, Eve Higgins and Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe in flying out to Dubai on Sunday to prepare for Ireland’s return to HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series action.

In the pack, Laura Feely, Neve Jones and Linda Djougang join forces in the front row, with the experienced Aoife McDermott returning to the second row alongside Sam Monaghan.

Griffin starts at blindside flanker for her 41st Ireland cap, Edel McMahon continues at openside, and Hannah O’Connor back in the starting line-up at number 8 following injury.

It will be a special occasion for the three uncapped players on the bench, as Healy, Touhey and Roberts all hope to make their debuts in front of a home crowd at the RDS.

Roberts, in particular, is enjoying an excellent season having impressed for Leinster in the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship and in the Energia All-Ireland League with newcomers Wicklow.

Commenting ahead of the game, Griggs said: “Following on from last week’s win over the USA, this is a really exciting opportunity for the group as we head into our second autumn Test.

“A number of players have earned their opportunity and it’s important to explore the depth within the group and build layers of experience as the group build towards the 2022 Women’s Six Nations.

“It is particularly exciting to see a number of young players coming through the Interoros and All-Ireland League, and for them to get their chance at Test level this weekend is paramount as the team enters a new cycle.”

Meanwhile, Japan boss Lesley McKenzie gives a debut to 20-year-old second row Otoka Yoshimura as one of seven personnel changes for the final match of their three-match European tour.

The Japanese side have lost to both Wales (23-5) and Scotland (36-12) over the past fortnight, with the Scotland game in Edinburgh seeing them play without red-carded lock Yuna Sato for the closing hour.

Two of Laura Sheehan’s Exeter Chiefs club-mates feature – Kanako Kobayashi at inside centre and Sachiko Kato at loosehead prop. Squad captain Saki Minami starts on the bench.

It is a youthful Sakura 15s starting line-up, with the 19-year-old Komachi Imakugi winning her fourth cap on the left wing. Scrum half Moe Tsukui (15 caps) and forwards Seina Saito (25) and Misaki Suzuki (24) provide the experience.

IRELAND WOMEN: Lauren Delany (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby); Aoife Doyle (Railway Union/Munster), Eimear Considine (UL Bohemians/Munster), Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Laura Sheehan (Exeter Chiefs/IQ Rugby); Enya Breen (UL Bohemians/Munster), Kathryn Dane (Old Belvedere/Ulster); Laura Feely (Blackrock College/Connacht), Neve Jones (Malone/Ulster), Linda Djougang (ASM Romagnat Rugby/Leinster), Aoife McDermott (Railway Union/Leinster), Sam Monaghan (Wasps/IQ Rugby), Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt), Edel McMahon (Wasps/IQ Rugby), Hannah O’Connor (Blackrock College/Leinster).

Replacements: Cliodhna Moloney (Wasps/IQ Rugby), Katie O’Dwyer (Railway Union/Leinster), Mary Healy (Naas/Suttonians/Leinster), Anna Caplice (Gloucester-Hartpury/IQ Rugby), Maeve Og O’Leary (Blackrock College/Munster), Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union/Leinster), Shannon Touhey (Tullamore/Connacht), Ella Roberts (Wicklow/Leinster).

JAPAN WOMEN: Ria Anoku (MIE Women’s RFC Pearls); Hinano Nagura (Yokogawa Musashino Artemi-Stars), Mana Futura (Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix), Kanako Kobayashi (Exeter Chiefs/Yokogawa Musashino Artemi-Stars), Komachi Imakugi (Arukas Queen Kumagaya/Rissho University); Ayasa Otsuka (RKU Grace), Moe Tsukui (Yokogawa Musashino Artemi-Stars/Aoyama Gakuin University); Sachiko Kato (Exeter Chiefs/Yokogawa Musashino Artemi-Stars), Nijiho Nagata (International Budo University), Makoto Lavemai (Yokogawa Musashino Artemi-Stars), Kie Tamai (MIE Women’s RFC Pearls), Otoka Yoshimura (Arukas Queen Kumagaya/Rissho University), Seina Saito (MIE Women’s RFC Pearls), Misaki Suzuki (Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix), Ayano Nagai (Yokohama TKM).

Replacements: Hinata Komaki (Nippon Sport Science University), Ayumu Kokaji (Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix), Wako Kitano (RKU Grace), Saki Minami (Yokogawa Musashino Artemi-Stars), Iroha Nagata (Arukas Queen Kumagaya), Yuki Ito (MIE Women’s RFC Pearls), Megumi Abe (Arukas Queen Kumagaya), Minori Yamamoto (MIE Women’s RFC Pearls/Worcester Warriors).