Henderson to earn 50th cap versus Japan

Iain Henderson is set to earn his 50th international cap as he is named to start in the second row for Ireland’s second Rugby World Cup pool game against the hosts, Japan in Shizuoka on Saturday (kick-off 4.15pm local time/8.15am Irish time). There are four changes for the Pool A top of the table clash with the tournament hosts. Rob Kearney and Keith Earls, who is Ireland’s record World Cup try scorer with eight tries, both return to the back-three alongside Jacob Stockdale. Chris Farrell, a first half replacement during the 27-3 bonus point win over Scotland, starts this time around, combining in the centre with Garry Ringrose. Connacht’s Jack Carty joins Conor Murray at half-back for his second start at Test level. Rory Best captains Ireland for the 36th time, going level with Keith Wood on the all-time list. For his 100th start for his country, Best leads an unchanged pack which includes his Ulster colleague Henderson. Peter O’Mahony, who has come through head injury assessments two and three, resumes in the back row alongside Josh van der Flier and CJ Stander, the Mastercard player-of-the-match from the first round clash with Scotland in Yokohama. Joey Carbery is poised to make his Rugby World Cup debut off the bench, having shaken off an ankle injury. Sean Cronin and Rhys Ruddock are also set for their first appearances of the tournament in Japan, while fellow replacements Dave Kilcoyne, Andrew Porter, Tadhg Beirne, Luke McGrath and Jordan Larmour all saw action against the Scots. IRELAND Team & Replacements (v Japan, 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool A, Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa, Saturday, September 28, kick-off 4.15pm local time/8.15am Irish time): Player/Club/Province/Caps – 15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 92 14. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 78 13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster) 25 12. Chris Farrell (Young Munster/Munster) 8 11. Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster) 22 10. Jack Carty (Buccaneers/Connacht) 8 9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 75 1. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 92 2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) (capt) 121 3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 37 caps 4. Iain Henderson (Queen’s University/Ulster) 49 5. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) 20 6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 60 7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster) 20 8. CJ Stander (Shannon/Munster) 34 Replacements: 16. Sean Cronin (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 70 17. Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster) 32 18. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster) 19 19. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster) 9 20. Rhys Ruddock (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) 23 21. Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster) 15 22. Joey Carbery (Clontarf/Munster) 19 23. Jordan Larmour (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) 17