Spectre of New Zealand hangs heavily over Japan fixture

Ireland Rugby Squad Training, IRFU High Performance Centre, Sport Ireland Campus, Blanchardstown, Dublin 1/11/2021

There is more to these autumn international windows than meets the eye if you are the Ireland head coach on the brink of selecting a team to face Japan this Saturday.

Andy Farrell will on Thursday unveil his matchday squad for the latest meeting with the Brave Blossoms, who will come to Aviva Stadium for the second time in four months looking to avenge a 39-31 defeat on July 3. Few need reminding that this is not a match-up to dismiss lightly given the pain inflicted by Jamie Joseph’s side in that 19-12 World Cup pool defeat in Shizuoka 26 months ago.