Ireland captain Caelan Doris feels stronger mentally and physically as he bids to put his career back on track following the agony of missing this summer's British and Irish Lions tour.
The 27-year-old will make his first start in six months in Saturday’s autumn international against Japan (12.40pm) after returning from a shoulder injury as a replacement in last weekend’s 26-13 loss to New Zealand in Chicago.
Doris was touted as a potential Lions captain for the recent series in Australia before undergoing surgery on a rotator cuff issue sustained in Leinster’s Champions Cup defeat to Northampton on 3 May.
His lengthy period of rehabilitation included reconditioning his body, attending a wellness retreat in California, travelling with friends and avoiding his phone during a digital detox.
"I haven’t had shoulder injuries in the last number of years, since school really, so it was an unfamiliar feeling – I knew something wasn’t right," said Doris.
"I was gutted initially, obviously, but I really felt it allowed the emotion to come through and as a result process it.
"I was then able to see the positives in the situation and move on quite quickly and frame it in a positive way and as a, hopefully, halfway point in my career, and reset and do things that I wouldn’t have been able to do had I been playing rugby.
"I definitely made the most of it from a rugby and physical point of view and trying to come back better, fitter, stronger, get on top of some other areas of weakness in my body, but also do some things mentally and refreshing things as well and trips away. I made the most of it."
The victorious Lions squad, led by Ireland boss Andy Farrell, contained 18 of Doris’ international team-mates.
He watched replays of the three Tests against the Wallabies after missing live coverage due to his time in the United States.
"It was a funny one because there’s obviously the pain of it, but also some of my best mates were over there playing and I’m a rugby fan as well," said Doris. "So I was keen to keep an eye on it at the same time.
"I definitely feel fresh after quite a long summer. I’ve loved being back in the mix over the last couple of weeks within camp."
Defeat to the All Blacks was a deflating start to a November campaign which also includes Dublin appointments with Australia and world champions South Africa.
Japan are back at the Aviva Stadium for the first time since being thumped 60-5 four years ago.
Doris hopes another morale-boosting Ireland win can provide a springboard for the future amid a "reset" in the camp.
"If you look back to 2021, this game was Johnny Sexton’s 100th cap and I think this game probably put us on an upward trajectory," said the back-rower.
"There have been some positives over the last year or two, we’ve had some big wins and some big performances but probably been inconsistent. There’s recognition of a bit of a reset at the minute.
"There’s no lack of belief or doubt in our potential and in what we can do.
"It’s just about getting out and delivering on it. Hopefully there will be an upward trajectory from here as well."
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