There are two significant cap milestones as captain Jonathan Sexton will win his 100th cap and Tadhg Furlong his 50th.

Sexton is joined at half-back by Jamison Gibson Park with Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose reunited in the centre for the first time since the rescheduled Six Nations fixture against Italy in October 2020.

Hugo Keenan starts at fullback in his 14^th consecutive game for Ireland and is flanked in the backfield by Andrew Conway and James Lowe.

Seven Leinster players are present in the pack with Tadhg Beirne being the only exception in the second row.

The dominant trio of Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher and Furlong make up the Irish front row.

Beirne is slotted behind the three front-rowers, with Leinster lock James Ryan joining him in the number five shirt.

Another Leinster trio make up the back row – Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan.

The replacements named for Saturday’s game are uncapped hooker Dan Sheehan, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery and Keith Earls.

Ireland won the most recent match involving the two sides in July – a nine-try thriller that ended 39-31.

The game will kick-off at 1 pm and will be available to watch on RTÉ 2.

Ireland team v Japan

15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 13 caps
14. Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen) 25 caps
13. Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 34 caps
12. Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 31 caps
11. James Lowe (Leinster) 6 caps
10. Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 99 caps CAPTAIN
9. Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 10 caps

1. Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 37 caps
2. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 13 caps
3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 49 caps
4. Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 22 caps
5. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 37 caps
6. Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 9 caps
7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 32 caps
8. Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 20 caps

Replacements
16. Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne)*
17. Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 109 caps
18. Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 16 caps
19. Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy) 63 caps
20. Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 76 caps
21. Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 89 caps
22. Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 24 caps
23. Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster) 93 caps

*denotes uncapped player

The post Johnny Sexton to captain Ireland for 100th cap against Japan appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Connacht were leading Glasgow Warriors by 4pts in the last five minutes of the match and Bundee Aki had been off the pitch after picking up a knock but that did not stop him shouting advice to his team mates. The video below shows the want to the attitude that has made him a star of the Irish international rugby team.

Connacht 28 Glasgow 24

It was a very low scoring first half with Glasgow getting a try in the 39minute to lead 10-3, the second was nothing like the first. Hastings kicked a long-range penalty to extend Glasgow’s lead to 10 points shortly after the restart.

Alex Wootton attempted to burst Connacht back into life and collected his own chip to race into the Glasgow 22, however the visiting defence stood firm and the winger was bundled into touch.

Aki grabbed Connacht’s first try of the season on 50 minutes after some smart play by centre partner Tom Farrell before Carty levelled the game with the subsequent conversion.

Connacht kept pushing after drawing level and Roux powered his way over seven minutes later after some strong work by the home pack, punishing Glasgow for some rushed clearance kicks.

Full-back Jones was the next to get on the scoresheet on the hour mark, finishing off a scintillating run however an immediate response from the boot of Carty restored Connacht’s advantage.

Ireland international Aki collected Wootton’s chip to touch down his second try of the match on 65 minutes before Grigg’s break set-up Tommy Seymour with nine minutes to play, with Hastings kicking the conversion to put a point between the sides.

However Carty landed a long-range penalty to put daylight between the sides and Connacht held on to secure their first win over a Scottish team since April 2019, when Andy Friend’s men beat Edinburgh.

Connacht: Porch; Sullivan, Farrell, Aki, Wootton; Carty, Marmion; Buckley, Heffernan, Bealham; Thornbury, Roux; Butler (capt), Oliver, Boyle.

Replacements: Murphy, Duggan, Aungier, Murray, Masterson, Blade, Fitzgerald, Arnold.

Glasgow Warriors: Jones; Seymour, Grigg, McDowall, Nairn; Hastings, Price; Kebble, Brown, Rae; Harley, Cummings; Wilson, Fusaro, Fagerson.

Replacements: Turner, Seiuli, Pieretto, Gray, Lokotui, G Horne, P Horne, Tagive.

The post Video – Bundee Aki shows his passion for Connacht Rugby appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Leinster maintained their unbeaten run as they edged out their big Irish rivals Munster 27-25 to record a 14th straight win of the Pro14 season, the conceded 12pts later when Devin Toner got a sin bin. 

The post Video Highlights – Leinster beat Munster – Pro14 August 2020 Aviva appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.