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Ireland make six changes to XV after England loss, handing debuts to Keenan and Connors

(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Andy Farrell has made six changes to his starting Ireland XV to face Italy on Saturday eight months after the 24-12 Six Nations loss to England at Twickenham in their last outing. Leinster winger Hugo Keenan and openside Will Connors come in for their Test level debuts, while Garry Ringrose, Andrew Porter, Tadhg Beirne and Caelan Doris are all recalled. 

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Jordan Larmour, who is ruled out until next February with a dislocated shoulder, sees his place at full-back taken by Jacob Stockdale, whose repositioning from the left wing opened up the slot for Keenan. In the Ireland midfield, Ringrose will step up for Six Nations duty to combine with Bundee Aki, with Robbie Henshaw dropping to the bench. 

Four of the six changes are in the pack. With Tadhg Furlong injured, Andrew Porter is promoted from the Twickenham bench while fit-again Tadhg Beirne comes in for Devin Toner, who was left out of the autumn squad named two weeks ago.

Video Spacer

James Ryan and Johnny Sexton look ahead to Ireland vs Italy

Video Spacer

James Ryan and Johnny Sexton look ahead to Ireland vs Italy

In the back row, Doris returns for his second start at the expense of the benched Peter O’Mahony. Doris’ debut lasted just four minutes against Scotland before he was concussed. Also in the back row, Connors comes in for club colleague Josh van der Flier.  

Ireland’s bench includes David Heffernan, the uncapped Ed Byrne, Finlay Bealham and Jamison Gibson-Park, another Test newcomer. Johnny Sexton will skipper the team after proving his fitness in training.

IRELAND (vs Italy, Saturday)

15. Jacob Stockdale (Ulster/Lurgan) 28 caps

14. Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen) 21 caps

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13. Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 29 caps

12. Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 26 caps

11. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) uncapped

10. Jonathan Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 91 caps CAPTAIN

9. Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 81 caps

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1. Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 98 caps

2. Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 11 caps

3. Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 26 caps

4. Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 13 caps

5. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 26 caps

6. Caelan Doris (Leinster/UCD) 2 caps

7. Will Connors (Leinster/UCD) uncapped

8. CJ Stander (Munster/Shannon) 41 caps

Replacements

16. Dave Heffernan (Connacht/Buccaneers) 1 cap

17. Ed Byrne (Leinster/UCD) uncapped

18. Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Corinthians) 9 caps

19. Ultan Dillane (Connacht/Corinthians) 15 caps

20. Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 67 caps

21. Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) uncapped

22. Ross Byrne (Leinster/UCD) 6 caps

23. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers) 43 caps

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SK 1 hour ago
Why England's defence of the realm has crumbled without Felix Jones

The way they are defending is sometime pathetic to be honest. Itoje is usually on the inside of the rush and he is paired with a slower tight forward. Unable to keep up with the rush we have seen the line become disconnected on the inside where the big boys are. How many times have we seen Earl rush past the first receiver almost into no mans land covering no attacker. It looks like a system without any guidance. Tome Wright, Ikitau and a number of Wallabies went back to this soft centre as did Williams, Jordan and several others. Also when the line is broken the multiple lines of defence seems to be missing. The rush is predicated on a cover and recovery system with multiple lines of defence but with England you dont see it any more. Fitness and conditioning seems to be off as well as players are struggling to keep up with the intensity of the rush. Felix Jones has left a huge hole. The whole situation was and is a mess. Why they insist on not letting him go and having him work remotely is beyond me. Its leading to massive negative press and is a hot button issue thats distracting from the squad. Also the communication around Jones and his role has been absolute rubbish and is totally disjointed. While some say he is working remotely and playing a role others are saying theres been no contact. His role has not been defined and so people keep asking and keep getting different answers. England need a clean break from him and need to start over. Whatever reason for his leaving its time to cut the rope before the saga drags the whole Borthwick regime down. As for Joe El Abd well good luck to him. He is being made to look like an amateur by the whole saga and he is being asked to coach a system thats not his and which has been perfected and honed since 2017 by Nienaber, Jones, Erasmus and Co and which was first started by White in 2004. He is literally trying to figure out a system pioneered by double world cup winning coaches at the highest level and coach it at the same time. Talk about being on a hiding to nothing.

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