Given the sense of rivalry and occasion attached to next week’s crunch meeting with the All Blacks at their Eden Park fortress, Ireland boss Andy Farrell was always likely to make changes for Saturday’s contest with Japan.
With nine alterations from the line-up that started last weekend’s dramatic 33-31 win over Australia in Sydney, Farrell has pumped new blood into the set-up with four uncapped players named in the matchday squad.
Sean Jansen starts at number eight, while Billy Bohan, Sam Illo and Bryn Ward are named on the bench.
For New Zealand-born Jansen, a first outing in green caps a hugely impressive season. The 27-year-old scored 10 United Rugby Championship tries for Connacht and was third for tackles made with 219.
With captain Caelan Doris and a six-Test British and Irish Lion in Jack Conan above him in the pecking order, Jansen must seize his first chance to show Farrell what he can do in the Test arena just over a year out from the World Cup in Australia.
Conan – who switches to blind-side flanker – has certainly shown him the way. The 33-year-old made 19 tackles (with a 95% success rate) and 16 carries against Australia.
Bryn Ward is another new face in the back row. The 21-year-old is an explosive talent and enjoyed a breakout season with Ulster.
An unused Six Nations squad member earlier this year, the opportunity to elbow his way into the back-row picture will not be lost on the Ballynahinch man.
Ward is one of eight Ulster players in the matchday squad, while the inclusion of replacement props Billy Bohan and Sam Illo takes Connacht’s representation to four alongside Jansen and experienced centre Bundee Aki.
But the significance of Saturday’s game extends beyond the new blood. For Jacob Stockdale, it is the first opportunity to stake his claim as the starting left wing following James Lowe’s departure.
Jamie Osborne started there against Australia, and while Tommy O’Brien will be a long-term option when he returns to fitness, a strong outing this weekend will breathe new life into Stockdale’s Test career and make him a contender to feature against the All Blacks for the first time since 2019.
It is also an important fixture for Stockdale’s long-time Ulster team-mate Nick Timoney. Ultra-consistent, the 30-year-old started and scored against Japan in November and hopes to show Farrell he can be more than an impact player after another strong showing off the bench against Australia.
Then there is a first Test start at fly-half for Ciaran Frawley.
Two years on from his drop-goal heroics in South Africa, the 28-year-old has left Leinster for Connacht in the hope of regular starts.
While Sam Prendergast appears to be the frontrunner to start against the All Blacks, a star turn on Saturday for Frawley will give Farrell plenty to ponder heading to Auckland.
