Ireland make six changes for Japan clash as Aoife Wafer ruled out

Ireland will be without Aoife Wafer as Scott Bemand makes six changes to his starting XV for Sunday’s clash with Japan at Dexcom Stadium, with his side looking to return to winning ways.

Following their opening WXV Global Series loss to the USA Women’s Eagles, Ireland will also be without two-time Guinness Women’s Six Nations Player of the Championship Wafer, who suffered a minor injury in training.

Last week, against the Women’s Eagles in Dublin, Ireland lost 40-36 and surrendered a 19-point lead in the second half.

It was an impressive victory for the North Americans, who lurched two places up the World Rugby rankings as a result. Ireland were left lamenting a poor second-half performance in which poor discipline handed the game to Jack Hanratty’s Eagles.

With Wafer unavailable for selection, Jemima Adams Verling is moved to No. 8 and Brittany Hogan is named as the starting blindside flanker. Erin King captains the team from the back row.

Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald is left out of the matchday 23 altogether, with Gloucester Hartpury’s Neve Jones named to start. Beth Buttimer is included among the replacements and will win her first cap when called upon.

Niamh O’Dowd is the only front-row player retained for Sunday’s clash, with Eilís Cahill preferred to Linda Djougang as the starting tighthead. Dorothy Wall and Fiona Tuite-O’Sullivan continue as the second row partnership.

In the backs, Anna McGann gets the nod at outside centre ahead of Aoife Dalton, and partners Eve Higgins in the midfield.

Béibhinn Parsons is selected on the wing, with Robyn O’Connor not selected, and Aoibheann Reilly swaps places with Emily Lane for the starting scrum-half jersey.

Ireland starting XV v Japan: 15. Stacey Flood, 14. Béibhinn Parsons, 13. Anna McGann, 12. Eve Higgins, 11. Vicky Elmes Kinlan, 10. Dannah O’Brien, 9. Aoibheann Reilly; 1. Niamh O’Dowd, 2. Neve Jones, 3. Eilís Cahill, 4. Dorothy Wall, 5. Fiona Tuite-O’Sullivan, 6. Brittany Hogan, 7. Erin King, 8. Jemima Adams Verling

Replacements: 16. Beth Buttimer*, 17. Sadhbh McGrath, 18. Linda Djougang, 19. Jane Clohessy, 20. Grace Moore, 21. Emily Lane, 22. Aoife Dalton, 23. Niamh Gallagher
*uncapped

Japan starting XV v Ireland: 15 Maiko Nishi, 14 Sora Nishimura, 13 Uta Kataoka, 12 Mana Furuta, 11 Komachi Imakugi, 10 Sawa Harada, 9 Moe Tsukui; 1 Hinata Komaki, 2 Moe Nagaoka, 3 Wako Kitano, 4 Masami Kawamura, 5 Yuna Sato, 6 Nami Asari, 7 Sakurako Korai, 8 Jennifer Nduka

Replacements: 16 Nijiho Nagata, 17 Nami Yoshida, 18 Juka Fuji, 19 Otoka Yoshimura, 20 Moe Nishimura, 21 Anan Seo, 22 Minori Yamamoto, 23 Mele Yua Havili Kagawa