Ireland have named their side for Sunday’s crucial World Rugby U20 Championship game against Japan.

Kicking off at 10am in Beziers, the game is the 11^th place play off, but in this case more importantly it is the relegation decider, with the loser missing out on next year’s tournament in Argentina, they will instead be relegated to the World Rugby U20 Trophy tournament.

There are six changes to the side that lost 45-29 to Scotland on Tuesday, with Dan Sheehan making his first start, he comes in at hooker.

Jack Daly comes in on the flank, while namesake Cormac comes into the second row. The final change in the pack sees Jack Aungier return at tighthead.

In the back division Michael Lowry will make his debut, he comes in for the injured Michael Silvester, while at scrum half Jonny Stewart earns a start. The rest of the back division remains unchanged.

The inspirational Caelan Dorris will again skipper the side from number 8, and it will surely be a matter of time before he adds to the litany of top class back row options in the senior Irish set up.

Speaking ahead of the match, Ireland U20 Head Coach Noel McNamara said:

“This isn’t a position we imagined we’d be in, but we know how important it’s going to be to get the win tomorrow. Japan showed on Tuesday that they are a tough outfit.”

“It took a late Georgia try to beat the Japanese side in midweek, so we are aware of the threats they pose. There’s a huge amount on the line tomorrow and everyone involved is fully focused on getting the result.”

Ireland U20 v Japan U20 – 11^th place play off, Sunday 17^th June, 10am (BST), Beziers – Live on www.worldrugby.org

Ireland U20 XV:

15 Michael Lowry

14 James Hume

13 Sean O’Brien

12 Peter Sylvester

11 Tommy O’Brien

10 Harry Byrne

9 Jonny Stewart

1 Jordan Duggan

2 Dan Sheehan

3 Jack Aungier

4 Cormac Daly

5 Jack Dunne

6 Jack Daly

7 Matthew Agnew

8 Caelan Dorris (captain)

Replacements: 16 Dylan Tierney, 17 Jakuh Wojtowicz, 18 Joe Byrne, 19 Charlie Ryan, 20 Joe Dunleavy, 21 Hugh O’Sullivan, 22 Conor Dean, 23 Tom Roche.

2018 World Rugby U20 Championship Finals Day Fixtures (All times BST), Sunday 17^th June:

Ireland v Japan – 11^th Place Play Off – 10am, Beziers

Scotland v Georgia – 9^th Place Play Off – 12.30pm, Beziers

Argentina v Australia – 5^th Place Play Off – 1pm, Beziers

Wales v Italy – 7^th Place Play Off – 3pm, Beziers

South Africa v New Zealand – 3^rd Place Play Off – 3.30pm, Beziers

England v France – Final – 6pm, Beziers

World Rugby U20 Championship Results:

Semi Finals – Tuesday 12^th June

Semis:

New Zealand 7-16 France

England 32-31 South Africa

5th-8th

Wales 15-39 Argentina

Italy 15-44 Australia

9^th-12^th

Ireland 29-45 Scotland

Georgia 24-22 Japan

Round 3:

Group A

Wales 18-17 Japan

New Zealand 27-18 Australia

Group B

Italy 30-26 Argentina

England 35-10 Scotland

Group C

Ireland 20-24 Georgia

South Africa 29-46 France

Round 2:

Group A

Australia 54-19 Japan

New Zealand 42-10 Wales

Group B

Argentina 29-13 Scotland

England 43-5 Italy

Group C

France 24-12 Georgia

South Africa 30-17 Ireland

Round 1:

Group A

New Zealand 67-0 Japan

Wales 26-21 Australia

Group B

England 39-18 Argentina

Italy 27-26 Scotland

Group C

France 26-24 Ireland

South Africa 33-27 Georgia

Group Standings: