Wilson looks to family values

It will be a family affair for talented number eight Roger Wilson when he dons an Ireland shirt for the first time on Sunday.

The 2004 Ulster player of the year, Wilson will have his proud parents at Osaka’s Nagai Stadium as Ireland, coached by stand-in Niall O’Donovan, take on Japan in the first of two Far East Tests.

A tigerish forward, the 23-year-old comes from good stock.

His Belfast-born grandfather Harry McKibbin, who regaled the youngster with his rugby memories, played as a centre on the 1938 British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa.

Uncles Harry Jnr and Alistair also earned Ireland honours, and Wilson is determined to follow in their footsteps.

“It be a special moment to walk out for my first cap with my parents in the stands,” said Wilson.

“It certainly won’t be a day to forget and I want to make the most of this opportunity,” said the former Ireland Under-21 player, who will make his senior breakthrough alongside another young Ulster star in lock Matt McCullough.

Wilson and McCullough are among six Ulster players named in O’Donovan’s starting line-up for the clash with the Cherry Blossoms.

With the province’s coach Mark McCall assisting on the trip and former Ulster manager Joey Miles assuming his new Ireland management role, Wilson is feeling right at home.

He said: “It’s nice to have so many familiar faces around. Personally, training had gone really well for me during camp in Limerick so I was hopeful of being included.

“When the team was read out it took a moment for it to sink in, but after the initial excitement the reality of the job at hand took over.

“Japan might be thought of as one of the lesser nations but we all realise that a good performance will be required if we want to get a result on Sunday.”

Wilson will be looking to mount a challenge to the long-standing Anthony Foley - a starter in Ireland’s last 15 Tests – as anchor of the Irish scrum.

His Ulster team-mate David Humphreys, who captains his country for the third time, knows Ireland’s Japan odyssey is as much about blooding new players as rounding out the season with eight wins from 10 outings.

“There’s a real opportunity here to introduce younger players at the top level, in a big stadium atmosphere, at a time when the management team are looking down the road to the next World Cup,” insisted the fly-half.

Coach O’Donovan, who has selected a mix of youth and experience in his side with 12 regulars missing, added: “There’s a fresh look to the team certainly, but it also has a backbone of experience that is essential at Test level.

“Nearly half of the starting 15 have less then 10 caps or are new caps, but backing that up we have over 300 caps of experience in key positions.”

Experienced hands Girvan Dempsey, Kevin Maggs, Peter Stringer and Frankie Sheahan are included in a line-up that boasts 355 caps – 354 less than that of the Ireland side who lost 32-20 to Wales last time out.

It is a special occasion for Maggs who is set to win his 70th cap.