Ireland v Japan betting tips: Irish seek World Cup revenge

Ireland will be without their British and Irish Lions stars this weekend as we pick out some Ireland v Japan betting tips ahead of Saturday’s international.

The likes of Conor Murray, Tadhg Beirne, Bundee Aki, Tadhg Furlong and Iain Henderson are among those in South Africa as part of Warren Gatland’s squad which is also in action on Saturday against the Emirates Lions.

That gives Andy Farrell a chance to experiment with some fringe and younger players in Dublin on Saturday in a match which kicks off at 1pm.

Ireland v Japan odds

Ireland have beaten Japan in seven of their eight past encounters and are 2/9 to come out on top on Saturday, but it was the Brave Blossoms who memorably prevailed 19-12 when they last met in the 2019 World Cup pool stage at the Shizuoka Stadium in Fukuroi.

Joe Schmidt left his coaching post at the end of that campaign, with Farrell taking the reins, while only five players could take the field this weekend who started the game against Japan in Fukuroi.

Hugo Keenan admitted the shock defeat had been mentioned among the 37-strong squad, which contains 12 uncapped players, but he insisted it will have little bearing on this weekend’s clash at the Aviva Stadium.

The Leinster back said: “It’s been touched on. We said it’s a lot of different players are involved at the moment, but we do have a responsibility, as a collective, to bounce back and right the wrongs of that game.