Japan student Ito keeps place against Ireland as Jones returns

Japan kept university student fly-half Ryunosuke Ito in their starting line-up named Thursday to face Ireland in the Nations Championship, as head coach Eddie Jones returns from suspension.

Ito made his international debut in Japan's 27-10 win against Italy in Tokyo last week and the 21-year-old impressed enough to keep his place alongside half-back partner Naoto Saito.

"He's a young 10, he's going to have his ups and downs but we've got a team that's going to support him," said Jones.

"Those guys will help look after him and we just want him to be himself."

Taira Main replaces Kippei Ishida on the left wing in Japan's only change for Saturday's Test which will be played in Newcastle, Australia.

Jones returns after serving a four-match ban imposed by the Japan Rugby Football Football Union for abusing match officials on a tour of Australia earlier this year.

When asked about his return to the coach's box, Jones answered: "I haven't really thought about it".

He was more forthcoming about taking on Ireland, who edged Australia 33-31 in their Nations Championship opener last week.

Jones said he was "really looking forward to putting in a winning performance".

"You look at the history of the games between Japan and Ireland, Japan's only won the one game, which was at the home World Cup," said the Australian.

"So this is a great opportunity for this young team to put their name in history, and that's what we want to do."

Four players, including Ito, made their Japan debuts against Italy.

Jones said the trip to Australia, where next year's World Cup will be held, would be a good bonding experience.

"I think touring is a great experience for a young team," he said.

"You get to spend time with each other, have a bit of fun, train hard, experience a different culture."

Japan will also face France in the inaugural Nations Championship in Tokyo on July 18.

Japan (15-1):

Takuro Matsunaga; Kazuma Ueda, Dylan Riley, Yuya Hirose, Taira Main; Ryunosuke Ito, Naoto Saito; Jack Cornelsen, Kanji Shimokawa, Ben Gunter; Warner Dearns (capt), Harry Hockings; Shuhei Takeuchi, Mamoru Harada, Takato Okabe

Replacements: Hayate Era, Sojiro Otuska, Keijiro Tamefusa, Michael Stolberg, Michael Leitch, Tiennan Costley, Itsuki Kamimura, Sam Greene

amk/dh

© Agence France-Presse