Scott Bemand's side go crashing towards the try line off the back of a strong maul, but Japan do incredibly well to hold Niamh O'Down up.

Ireland have managed to regather the possession again from the restart.

Great work by Eve Higgins as Japan are pinged for holding on to the ball.

Dannah O'Brien kicks to the corner and Ireland have a strong attacking opportunity here.

Japan are showing some good line speed so far, with Ireland patiently working through the phases.

Who will get over for the first score of the game?

The ball is spilt forward by Aoibheann Reilly, so we've got our first scrum of the game with a Japan put-in.

Eilis Cahill is raring to go on her first start for Ireland!

Ireland have the first line-out after a good opening attacking set.

And we're under way at Dexcom Stadium in Galway!

Image source, Inpho

Ireland's Call is being belted out by the squad and all of the supporters in the Galway stadium.

Beth Buttimer is set to win her first cap from the bench and you can see how much the occasion means to her already!

Kick-off is just moments away...

Image source, Getty Images

Moe Tsukui has entered the pitch first on her 50th Test cap - a huge achievement for the Japan captain!

Both teams are ready to go but first it's time for the anthems...

Do you think Scott Bemand's side will come out top against Japan?

Give us a thumbs up if you agree or thumbs down if you disagree!

It's been a highly entertaining weekend of WXV Global Series fixtures so far!

South Africa held on against Italy to claim a nail-biting 41-29 victory at Stadio Omero Tognon - a great response from the world’s 10th-ranked side who were left shocked by Wales last week, as Sean Lynn’s side registered a 50-19 win.

Next up, it was the Red Roses v Black Ferns blockbuster. With the clock ticking into the 81st minute, the score was level at 19-19.

That was until Zoe Harrison intercepted a pass and went soaring over the try line to secure a 26-19 victory in front of 59,871 supporters at Allianz Stadium.

The USA made it two wins from two in Europe after edging Wales 26-24 in a feisty contest at Cardiff Arms Park, with last week’s player of the match over Ireland Freda Tafuna scoring a decisive hat-trick.

Scotland suffered a third defeat in the WXV Global Series as Australia overpowered them 30-10, whilst France defeated Canada 21-5 at the Stade Marcel-Deflandre in La Rochelle.

So who will come out top today? It's almost time to find out.

Image source, Getty Images

Head coach Kitagawa has made two changes to the starting side that faced Italy.

Japan are looking to bounce back from last weekend’s 55-21 defeat to Italy in Pordenone and will be led by captain Moe Tsukui as she earns her 50th Test cap for Japan.

Tsukui will form the half-back partnership with Sawa Harada, with Mana Furuta continuing at inside centre and Uta Kataoka earning her first Test start at outside centre after making her Sakura Fifteen debut from the bench against Italy last weekend.

Komachi Imakugi and Sora Nishimura continue on the wings, with Maiko Nishi starting at full-back.

Moe Nagaoka moves from the reserves to start at hooker and will be joined by Hinata Komaki and Wako Kitano in the front row.

Locks Masami Kawamura and Yuna Sato make up the second row, with Nami Asari, Sakurako Korai and Jennifer Nduka forming the back row.

On the bench, experienced front-rower Nijiho Nagata, lock Mio Nishimura and back Minori Yamamoto join the matchday 23, with Nami Yoshida, Juka Fuji, Otoka Yoshimura, Anan Seo and Mele Yua Havili Kagawa providing the remaining cover.

Image source, Getty Images

Ireland head coach Scott Bemand has made six changes to his side for today’s clash against Japan, with Aoife Wafer ruled out through injury.

Neve Jones starts at hooker, Eilís Cahill makes her first start at tighthead prop and Niamh O’Dowd completes the front row with her second successive start at loosehead prop.

The shift means that Linda Djougang will not start a Test for Ireland for just the second time since Bemand took charge.

The second row is retained by Dorothy Wall and Fiona Tuite O’Sullivan.

Captain Erin King starts at openside flanker as she leads her country for the seventh time, with Brittany Hogan at blindside flanker and last week’s debutant Jemima Adams Verling shifting to number eight.

Aoibheann Reilly returns to the mix and will form the half-back partnership with Dannah O’Brien, whilst Anna McGann and Eve Higgins partner in the centre.

Beibhinn Parsons is the final change to the starting side and forms the back three alongside Vicky Elmes Kinlan and Stacey Flood.

Munster's Beth Buttimer will win her first cap if she come off the bench, with Jane Clohessy, Grace Moore, Sadhbh McGrath, Niamh Gallagher, Linda Djougang, Emily Lane and Aoife Dalton completing the matchday 23.

Image source, Getty Images

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.

Japan: Nishi; S Nishimura, Kataoka, Furuta, Imakugi; Harada, Tsukui (capt); Komaki, Nagaoka, Kitano; Kawamura, Sato; Asari, Korai, Nduka.

Replacements: Nagata, Yoshida, Fuji, Yoshimura, M Nishimura, Seo, Yamamoto, Havili Kagawa.

Today isn't the only time these sides will meet in this international window...

Ireland will take on Japan again in six days time but this fixture will sit outside of the WXV Global Series.

Virgin Media Park in Cork will host the match on Saturday, 3 October (14:00 BST).

Then it's time to head to South Africa for more WXV Global Series action!

Ireland will face the hosts on consecutive weekends at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town, with the first Test taking place on Saturday, 24 October (14:00 BST), before the series concludes on Saturday, 31 October (13:00 GMT).

The WXV Global Series has replaced the WXV competition, with England winning both editions of the premier section (WXV1) in 2023 and 2024.

The world’s top 12 ranked national teams – England, New Zealand, Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, USA, Australia, South Africa, Japan and Wales - will be competing in a new home-and-away touring model.

It is taking place from 12 September to 31 October, so there is still plenty of exciting Test rugby in store.

Six emerging nations – Fiji, Spain, Samoa, Hong Kong China, the Netherlands and Brazil - also competed in a centrally hosted tournament at Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong at the WXV Global Series Challenger, with Fiji lifting the trophy in yesterday's decider with the Netherlands.

Welcome to our live text commentary as Ireland take on Japan at Dexcom Stadium in Galway.

Can Scott Bemand's side bounce back from their 40-36 defeat by the USA last weekend and secure their first win in the WXV Global Series?

We'll find out very shortly, so stay tuned!

Image source, Inpho