During the inauguration, Jonathan Sexton (95 caps) will play the twelfth tournament, the second as captain. With Connor Murray (87 caps), he was one of five survivors of the last Irish victory in Cardiff in 2013 (Murray, Sexton, Healy, Oh Mahoney, Erz).

In the middle, Robbie Henshow (47 choices) and Gary Ringross (30 caps) Meet for the first time in Japan since the 2019 World Cup quarter-finals Cian Healy (104 caps) Playing for the 50th time in the Six Nations tournament.

Overall, there are only four changes from XV, who dominated Scotland (31-16) at the Autumn Nation Cup in December: James Lowe, Gary Ringross, Thaddeus Byrne And Josh van der Flyer Start instead Jacob Stokedale, Bundy Aki, Ian Henderson And Callen Doris.

Third in the final tournament, the Irish Welsh, fifth, on Sunday, before accepting the Blues next week.

XV of Ireland

Keenan – Erz, Ringrose, Henshaw, Lowe – (o) Sexton (cap.), (M) Murray – van der Flyer, CJ Standard, O’Mahoney – J.
Ripples: Kelleher, Kilcoin, Farlong, Henderson, Connors, Gibson Park, b. Burns, Larmore