Future-proofing is the name of these games for Andy Farrell

The absence of first team regulars provide a great opportunity for the head coach to deepen the experience of those players available to him and lay some further stepping stones towards the 2023 World Cup

BACK ON TRACK: Joey Carbery gets in some kicking practice during the captain’s run at the Aviva Stadium, ahead of today’s clash with Japan. Carbery starts at 10 for the first time since August 2019 alongside Jamison Gibson-Park. Picture: Ryan Byrne

Ireland supporters returning to Aviva Stadium this afternoon should be in for a treat as the two-game Vodafone Summer Series gets underway with a rematch against World Cup nemesis Japan that promises fireworks aplenty.

It is 22 months since the wheels fell off Joe Schmidt’s final campaign as head coach and fellow New Zealander Jamie Joseph engineered a breathtaking 19-12 World Cup pool victory for the Brave Blossoms in Shizuoka.