Ireland back row Aoife Wafer has been ruled out of the WXV Global Series match against Japan on Sunday due to a minor training injury. Head coach Scott Bemand has made six changes following last weekend’s shock 40-36 defeat by the United States in Tallaght. Connacht’s Beibhinn Parsons, Anna Mc Gann, and Aoibheann Reilly are named in the backline, while Eilís Cahill earns her first Ireland start in the front row. Neve Jones starts at hooker, and Brittany Hogan is selected in the back row. Uncapped hooker Beth Buttimer is included in the matchday 23 for the first time and is set to make her Test debut off the bench. The United States staged a remarkable second-half comeback, scoring four successive tries after trailing 31-12 to secure a memorable victory.

Ireland’s lineup includes Flood; Parsons, Mc Gann, Higgins, Elmes Kinlan; O’Brien, Reilly; O’Dowd, Jones, Cahill; Wall, Tuite-O’Sullivan; Hogan, King (capt), Adams Verling. Replacements: Buttimer, Mc Grath, Djougang, Clohessy, Moore, Lane, Dalton, Gallagher.