DUBLIN :Resurgent Munster centre Tom Farrell will make his Ireland debut against Japan on Saturday, six years after his only other unsuccessful call-up to the national squad in what coach Andy Farrell described as a "Roy of the Rovers" journey.

Captain Caelan Doris will also start for the first time since undergoing surgery six months ago. The influential number eight looked sharp off the bench against New Zealand last Saturday before Ireland fell away badly to a 26-13 defeat.

The late-blooming Farrell, 32, has been in superb form for Munster this season but was only included in the squad for the November internationals as a late injury replacement.

"(Tom's) is a real Roy of the Rovers story when you look at his journey in the game to this point," Andy Farrell said, referring to the foo

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