Why wasn’t Johnny Sexton playing for Ireland against Japan in Rugby World Cup and who was his replacement?
IRELAND are chasing their first ever World Cup triumph this autumn in Japan.
Joe Schmidt's side come into the tournament as the No1 ranked side in the world - but were without first-choice fly-half Johnny Sexton in a stunning 19-12 pool defeat to the hosts.
Why wasn't Johnny Sexton playing for Ireland?
SEXTON is regarded as one of Ireland's best players and made his debut back in 2009.
He is vice-captain of the side and has scored over 700 points in a glittering international career.
But Ireland weren't able to call on him against hosts Japan in Fukuroi City.
Sexton limped out of the win over Scotland with a thigh complaint - and wasn't able to shake off the injury in time to feature in this one.
Coach Joe Schmidt revealed: "Johnny is never happy about being left out.
"He got a little mileage against Scotland and we thought about bringing him off the bench, but it's a case of being confident in the squad. He keeps himself in good condition and he's a guy who can come back and hit the ground running."
Connacht's Jack Carty was named in the starting XV to replace him.
Ireland vs Japan teams
Ireland: Kearney; Earls, Ringrose, Farrell, Stockdale; Carty, Murray; Healy, Best, Furlong, Henderson, James Ryan; O'Mahony, van der Flier, Stander.
Replacements: Cronin, Kilcoyne, Porter, Beirne, Ruddock, McGrath, Carbery, Larmour.
Japan: Yamanaka; Matsushima, Lafaele, Nakamura, Tupou; Tamura, Nagare; Inagaki, Horie, Koo, Thompson, Moore; Himeno, Labuschagne, Mafi.
Replacements: Sakate, Nakajima, Ai Valu, van der Walt, Tanaka, Matsua, Lava Lemeki.
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Rugby World Cup Pool A fixtures and results
Japanese time in brackets.
Friday, September 20: Japan 30-10 Russia
Sunday, September 22: Ireland 27-3 Scotland
Tuesday, September 24: Russia 9-34 Samoa
Saturday, September 28: Japan vs Ireland - 8.15am (4.15pm)
Monday, September 30: Scotland vs Samoa - 11.15am (7.15pm)
Thursday, October 3: Ireland vs Russia - 11.15am (7.15pm)
Saturday, October 5: Japan vs Samoa - 11.30am (7.30pm)
Wednesday, October 9: Scotland vs Russia - 8.15am (4.15pm)
Saturday, October 12: Ireland vs Samoa - 11.45am (7.45pm)
Sunday, October 13: Japan vs Scotland - 11.45am (7.45pm)