Captain fit to play on Sunday

Ireland tour to Japan: Ireland outhalf and captain David Humphreys will be available for the second Test against Japan at the…

Ireland tour to Japan: Ireland outhalf and captain David Humphreys will be available for the second Test against Japan at the Prince Chichibu stadium in Tokyo on Sunday, despite suffering a facial injury and being forced to retire after 22 minutes of the first Test in Osaka.

Humphreys was helped from the field after being left prone and dazed in trying to make a tackle. He had two front teeth loosened and was taken first to hospital for an X-ray and then to a dentist, who managed to save the teeth by pushing them back in and gluing them. Fortunately, Humphreys had been wearing a gumshield; otherwise the damage would have been much worse.

The Irish captain had looked particularly sharp in his limited time on the pitch and is looking forward to getting another opportunity this Sunday.

There were no other serious concerns following the 44-12 first-Test victory in Osaka, just the normal bumps and bruises.

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The Ireland team travelled from Osaka to Tokyo yesterday by bullet train (Shinkensen) and will resume training today.

The team for that second Test match will be named tomorrow morning Irish time.