Is Japan v Ireland on TV? Channel, kick-off time and how to watch Nations Championship clash

Japan and Ireland will hope to build on winning starts as they continue their Nations Championship campaigns with a clash in Newcastle, Australia.

With Eddie Jones absent due to a suspension, Japan were in impressive form as they beat Italy in Tokyo to kick start their July Tests with a strong win.

Ireland had a rather tenser ending to their meeting with the Wallabies, with Ben Donaldson’s last-minute missed penalty confirming a narrow success for Andy Farrell’s side.

Farrell rotates in places with a match against the All Blacks to come next week – can Japan produce another statement result?

Here’s everything you need to know.

When is Japan vs Ireland?

Japan vs Ireland is due to kick off at 11.10 BST on Saturday 11 July at the McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, Australia.

How can I watch it?

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on ITV1, with coverage on the channel from 10.40am BST. A live stream will be available via ITVX.

Team news

Eddie Jones returns to the Japan coaching box after serving a four-match ban for abusing match officials. The head coach puts continued faith in young fly half Ryunosuke Ito, impressive in the win over Italy, with Taira Main’s inclusion on the left wing the only change to the starting side.

Lock pair Harry Hockings and Warner Dearns provide plenty of heft – Dearns was excellent in the Hurricanes’ successful Super Rugby Pacific campaign. Veteran Michael Leitch provides leadership from the bench.

Japan XV: 1 Takato Okabe, 2 Mamoru Harada, 3 Shuhei Takeuchi; 4 Harry Hockings, 5 Warner Dearns (capt.); 6 Ben Gunter, 7 Kanji Shimokawa, 8 Jack Cornelsen; 9 Naoto Saito, 10 Ryunosuke Ito; 11 Taira Main, 12 Yuya Hirose, 13 Dylan Riley, 14 Kazuma Ueda; 15 Takuro Matsunaga.

Replacements: 16 Hayate Era, 17 Sojiro Otuska, 18 Keijiro Tamefusa, 19 Michael Stolberg, 20 Michael Leitch, 21 Tiennan Costley; 22 Itsuki Kamimura, 23 Sam Greene.

It is a fresh looking Irish side led by Tadhg Beirne, with No 8 Sean Jansen one of four debutants in the matchday 23. Jansen is joined by Connacht colleagues Billy Bohan and Sam Illo – providing prop cover as Ireland seek to develop more front row options – and Ulster back row Bryn Ward as potential first-cappers in Newcastle.

Jamie Osborne shifts to full-back as Jacob Stockdale comes into the back three, while Ciaran Frawley earns an opportunity at fly half.

Ireland XV: 1 Tom O’Toole, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 3 Tom Clarkson; 4 Tadhg Beirne (capt.), 5 James Ryan; 6 Jack Conan, 7 Nick Timoney, 8 Sean Jansen; 9 Craig Casey, 10 Ciaran Frawley; 11 Jacob Stockdale, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 14 Jimmy O’Brien; 15 Jamie Osborne.

Replacements: 16 Tom Stewart, 17 Billy Bohan, 18 Sam Illo, 19 Cormac Izuchukwu, 20 Bryn Ward; 21 Nathan Doak, 22 Harry Byrne, 23 Bundee Aki.