Ireland's second Nations Championship stop is not a routine rotation job. It is Andy Farrell testing how much road this squad really has beneath it.

Farrell has made nine changes for Saturday's meeting with Japan in Newcastle, with kick-off at 11.15am Irish time. Ireland arrive off an away win over Australia, but this is the sort of game that tells a coach whether his wider group can travel, adapt and still look like Ireland.

A team picked to answer questions

Tadhg Beirne captains the side. Ciaran Frawley starts at outhalf and Sean Jansen is set for his first Ireland cap from number eight.

There are more new-cap chances on the bench. Connacht props Billy Bohan and Sam Illo are in line for debuts, as is Ulster's Bryn Ward.

That matters because Ireland are not at full strength. Balls.ie reported that Caelan Doris, Andrew Porter, Ryan Baird, Jack Boyle, Edwin Edogbo and Paddy McCarthy are unavailable in the pack. In the backs, Mack Hansen, Tommy O'Brien, Calvin Nash, Jack Crowley and Shayne Bolton are also out.

Robert Baloucoune misses out again after being a late withdrawal last weekend. Balls.ie reports that the Ulster winger will aim to be ready for next Saturday's game in New Zealand.

Why Japan matters here

Japan are the right opponent for this kind of Irish selection. They will make Ireland move, think and defend space. A scratchy win would keep the tour alive, but it would not settle many nerves.

Farrell needs more than a result. He needs evidence. Frawley needs authority. Jansen needs to look comfortable at test speed. The bench props need to show that Ireland's depth is more than a list of names.

The Nations Championship context

This is round two of the Nations Championship, rugby's new international lane. World Rugby has framed Saturday, 11 July as a packed day of six back-to-back test matches involving the Rugby Championship and Six Nations teams, plus Japan and Fiji.

For Ireland, that means the old summer tour feeling has a sharper edge. The table now matters. Selection now carries tournament consequence.

A win over Japan would not settle everything before New Zealand. It would, though, make Farrell's bigger call look sensible: use the tour to grow the squad while the competition is already keeping score.

Reporting: Balls.ie, World Rugby