Joey Carbery makes his return to the Ireland team while James Ryan wears the captain’s armband against Japan on Saturday.
Peter O’Mahony starts on the blindside flank and is joined in the backrow by Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris, who makes his international return after missing the 2021 Six Nations Championships.
The front row is made up of Dave Kilcoyne, Ronan Kelleher and Finlay Bealham.
At half-back Jamison Gibson Park will partner Joey Carbery who returns to the international scene for the first time since the Rugby World Cup in 2019.
Stuart McCloskey and Chris Farrell are paired in midfield with Jacob Stockdale and Jordan Larmour on the wings and Hugo Keenan is at fullback.
The replacements include Rob Herring, Ed Byrne, John Ryan, Ryan Baird, the uncapped Gavin Coombes, Craig Casey, Billy Burns and Shane Daly.
Last weekend Jamie Joseph’s Brave Blossoms made the British and Irish Lions work hard for their 28-10 victory in Murrayfield.
Five Ireland players; Chris Farrell, Jacob Stockdale, Josh van der Flier, Peter O’Mahony and James Ryan started against Japan in the last encounter between the two sides at the 2019 Rugby World Cup with Dave Kilcoyne, Joey Carbery and Jordan Larmour featuring off the bench that day in Shizuoka.
Ireland: 15. Hugo Keenan, 14. Jordan Larmour, 13. Chris Farrell, 12. Stuart McCloskey, 11. Jacob Stockdale, 10. Joey Carbery, 9. Jamison Gibson Park, 1. Dave Kilcoyne, 2. Ronan Kelleher, 3. Finlay Bealham, 4. Ultan Dillane, 5. James Ryan, 6. Peter O’Mahony, 7. Josh van der Flier, 8. Caelan Doris
Replacements: 16. Rob Herring, 17. Ed Byrne, 18. John Ryan, 19. Ryan Baird, 20. Gavin Coombes, 21. Craig Casey, 22. Billy Burns, 23. Shane Daly
Ireland v Japan – 3rd July 2021, Aviva Stadium
