Ireland head coach Greg McWilliams announced three changes today for his side's second test against Japan on Saturday.Jo Brown, Grace Moore and Laura Feely all come into a side looking to make it two wins from two on the road.Brown is the most eye-catching inclusion - the 28-year-old won seven caps for her native England but is now poised to make her Ireland debut.She qualifies under World Rugby's new international eligibility rules, which allow one country change providing the player hasn't represented their original nation in three years.The Worcester Warriors flanker has Irish ancestry but players can also qualify if they were born in the second country or spent five consecutive years living there before the switch."When I got the job, one of the first things I did was connect with Joe Lydon and Steve McGinnis who run the IQ [IRFU Irish qualified] programme," McWilliams told RTÉ Sport."There are a wide range of players that are Irish-qualified and Jo is one of them.
You’re watching her performances in the Prem [Allianz Premier 15s]. I love how she goes about her business, she’s very tough and abrasive."She’s got seven caps for England, her last cap was in 2019.
We had a look at her over the summer and I was impressed with what I saw. I think she buys into the style of rugby we’re trying to play and I’m looking forward to seeing how she goes."Brown becomes the first player to represent Ireland at senior level having previously lined out for another country since Australian Brian Smith in 1991 but McWilliams insisted he had "never thought of it as a thing, to be honest.""I’ve never addressed it with her.