Injury rules Ireland's Wafer out of Japan game

Ireland back row Aoife Wafer has been ruled out of the WXV Global Series encounter against Japan on Sunday because of injury.

Wafer is sidelined for the Galway game after sustaining a minor injury in training.

Ireland head coach Scott Bemand has made six changes following the shock 40-36 defeat by the USA in the series opener last weekend.

Connacht's Beibhinn Parsons, Anna McGann and Aoibheann Reilly come into the backline, while Eilís Cahill earns her first Ireland start in the front row.

Neve Jones is drafted in at hooker and Brittany Hogan is selected in the back row.

Bemand has included uncapped hooker Beth Buttimer in the matchday 23 for the first time.

The 21-year-old is set to make her Test debut off the bench after impressing for Munster during the Women's Interprovincial Championship.

The United States staged a remarkable second-half comeback to beat Ireland in Tallaght on Sunday.

Ireland led 31-12 before four successive tries helped the Americans to a memorable success.

Ireland: Flood; Parsons, McGann, Higgins, Elmes Kinlan; O'Brien, Reilly; O'Dowd, Jones, Cahill; Wall, Tuite-O'Sullivan; Hogan, King (capt), Adams Verling.

Replacements: Buttimer, McGrath, Djougang, Clohessy, Moore, Lane, Dalton, Gallagher.