Quilter Autumn Nations Series: Ireland v Japan, Aviva Stadium, Saturday, 12.40pm – Live on RTÉ2 and TNT Sports
A rebooted Ireland team have had a reset after last week’s deflating and disappointing defeat to the All Blacks. In normal circumstances therefore, hosting the Brave Blossoms might almost seem anticlimactic, and something of a no-win game, but now it is not only a must-win game, but one Ireland need to win convincingly as well.
Encouragingly, despite the unfavourable 12.40pm kick-off, the game is practically a sell-out for a game made particularly notable by the welcome return of Ireland captain Caelan Doris as one of eight changes to the starting XV. Mindful of the four-game November programme and trip to Chicago, Andy Farrell has also refreshed the match-day 23 with eight players who did not feature in last week’s 26-13 loss to New Zealand.
Back in the starting line-up and as captain after last week’s return off the bench following his six-month lay-off, Doris took his cue from Andy Farrell
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