Hello and welcome to our Ireland vs Russia live blog and a match that has suddenly taken on a great deal more meaning after THAT Japan result.
The Irish are still reeling from being humbled by the hosts, 19 – 12, and will be looking to make a statement against one of the competition’s so-called minnows.
British and Irish Lions fly-half Johnny Sexton will become Ireland’s 106 th Test captain when leading Joe Schmidt’s side against the Russians in Kobe.
Head coach Schmidt has made 11 changes from the line -up that lost to Japan in a bid to handle the five-day turnaround between matches.
So, with regular skipper Rory Best rested, Sexton takes the captaincy – and defense coach Andy Farrell has backed the 34 year-old to stay calm when dealing with referee Jerome Garces after Ireland came out on the wrong side of referee Angus Gardner in Saturday’s shock defeat by the Brave Blossoms.
“Johnny cares so much; I think you’ve seen with his captaincy at Leinster that he’s learned from those situations, and it helps his game.
“We talked about those conditions on Thursday night. Things will happen that aren’t going to plan and we need to stay positive with each other and the referee in the way that we play the game as well.
“So Johnny is aware of all that.”
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