LONG READ It's 'make or bench' for Ireland's new-look half-backs against Japan

“It’s business time now,” Andy Farrell said of Ireland’s four potential debutants after naming his team to face Japan. “They need to rip in.”

Connacht’s Sean Jansen is locked in for that Test bow – starting at number eight in a back-row which features Jack Conan at blindside and Nick Timoney at openside. Billy Bohan, Sam Illo and Bryn Ward are the others hoping Saturday in Newcastle will mark their first caps. That quartet may need to form a mini boy band to rip through the post-match songs that accompany Irish debuts.

“There’s a reason they’re here,” Ireland scrum coach John Fogarty said of rookie props, Bohan and Illo. “Billy and Sam have performed well throughout the season. They’ve put their hands up and we’re seeing that form in training.” The pair are not even internationals yet and have already been subjected to some Eddie Jones mind games. “Particularly in the second half, we expect to dominate the Irish scrum,” Japan’s coach declared.

Fogarty joked about drafting Ward in for some front-row drills. “I’m looking at Bryn all the time. He’s 120kg. I’m looking at him going, ‘Come over here, big boy!’ But I haven’t gone there yet. Let’s see how he goes as a back-row.”

The Japan game is a massive opportunity for players to show Farrell there is another way. Should Jansen fare well, it brings an extra dimension to Ireland’s back row. Born and raised in Dunedin, but Irish qualified through two of his grandparents, Jansen is an out-and-out number eight. He has impressed there for Connacht and a successful step up would allow the coaches to take a look, for example, at Conan covering blindside with Caelan Doris (when he returns later this year) at openside.

Much of the focus on Ireland’s team selection is on new faces, Tadhg Beirne being named as captain for the first time, and Ciarán Frawley getting a rare start at 10. However, the inclusion of Craig Casey as starting scrum-half is a big one heading into the World Cup countdown.

Casey is five years into his Ireland career, having made his debut in the 2021 Six Nations, and has 30 caps. He has only started 10 of those matches, however, typically against rugby’s lesser powers. His only Six Nations starts have come against Italy.

If there is a perception Casey plays better with Crowley at his side, it is because most of the evidence points towards it.

Casey’s biggest Ireland break was followed by a tour-ending injury. When Jamison Gibson-Park was forced to miss Ireland’s 2024 trip to South Africa, Farrell turned to him, with veteran Conor Murray backing up. This was his first start against a true powerhouse and a Pretorian stage to show he could stand the considerable heat.

The world champions were dominant in the early stages, with Casey given little to work with from a pack that were battling just to remain on one back foot. South Africa led 13-0 after 30 minutes, before Ireland warmed to the mighty task. Casey played his part in Ireland punching back, speeding up his distribution, taking on a few snipes and landing a great 50/22 kick.

Just after the hour mark, RG Snyman careered through Ireland’s breakdown defence and scragged Casey as he attempted to find Doris. Snyman, with size and momentum on his side, followed through and landed on top of his former Munster teammate. Casey’s head bounced off the turf, he was concussed, stretchered off and his series was over. Murray replaced him for the final quarter, scored a try and started the second Test, which Ireland won thanks to Frawley’s late drop-goal heroics. Gibson-Park returned and Casey has seen his opportunities extremely limited since.

Craig Casey (centre) starts without the familiarity of his Munster half-back partner Jack Crowley (second from right) in Newcastle (Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Five of Casey’s Ireland starts have come with Jack Crowley, his Munster teammate, for company. They also came off the bench together in November 2024 to help spark a late comeback win over Australia. If there is a perception Casey plays better with Crowley at his side, it is because most of the evidence points towards it. They have a great working relationship and know each other’s games by heart. One of their finest outings in recent years was in Munster’s Champions Cup last 16 triumph in La Rochelle in April 2025. Casey scored a great try, kicked superbly and expertly marshalled his pack, while Crowley contributed 10 points, including the match-winning drop goal.

Blood vessel issues leading to Crowley developing dead-leg symptoms have kept the Cork man out of the Nations Championship, four months after winning the 10 jersey back from Sam Prendergast. For Casey, as much as he will miss his buddy, this match represents the chance to prove to Farrell he can bring the best out of another fly-half. That he is still the best alternative to Gibson-Park. The 34-year-old was on the bench while Casey started against Italy in the Six Nations and was electric coming on for the final 30 minutes – the cattle prod Ireland needed to edge a tight contest.

Nathan Doak, the squad’s other scrum-half, is a confident young man and will have designs on pushing into Farrell’s plans over the next year. Doak is a handy goal-kicking option too.

Frawley is Test-quality, without doubt, but has yet to shed that ‘utility player’ tag.

We then come to Frawley, who gets his hands on a 10 jersey in a senior game for the first time since April 2025. The Dubliner resolved early in the season a move away from Leinster was required to start at fly-half for his country. “I love Leinster,” Frawley told The Sunday Independent, “but I had to make a bold decision to accelerate my career.”

The 28-year-old was already up against Prendergast and Harry Byrne for minutes at Leinster, and was effectively frozen out from playing 10 after he opted to join Stuart Lancaster’s Connacht. He played inside centre and full-back with his province, earning some occasional fly-hal minutes as a replacement. His sole start at 10 this season came in a 52-14 defeat for Ireland A against England. Few in green, bar Bryn Ward, emerged with much credit from that game.

Frawley raged against the dying of the Champions Cup Final light when Leinster were put to the sword by Bordeaux-Begles, and had many Leinster fans wondering why he had not been backed by his coaches. It was not all perfect but he certainly caused the French side some headaches and offered Leinster brief hope. He was rewarded by not featuring in a single matchday squad for the URC title run-in.

Frawley came on for the final 22 minutes against Australia last Saturday, but covered 15 as Hugo Keenan switched to the wing. His defence was strong and he contested well whenever the Wallabies took to the skies. He is Test-quality, without doubt, but has yet to shed that ‘utility player’ tag. Casey was on the bench in Sydney, and Farrell kept him there as Gibson-Park finished out a thrilling win.

As Casey and Frawley’s 11 combined Ireland starts prove, Farrell offers plenty of up-and-comers a shot to impress. If they do, they are embraced as key squad members. If not, it is tackle pads, fewer training reps and cracks in much-changed XVs against the second tier. For Ireland’s starting nine and 10, this weekend is not so much make-or-break, but make-or-bench.