Six changes for the Italy-bound Ireland, including new half-backs

Andy Farrell has named an Ireland team to play Italy on Saturday that shows six changes – including a new half-back partnership – from their Guinness Six Nations round two win over France. The title favourites defeated the 2022 Grand Slam champions 32-19 in Dublin on February 11 and they now head to Rome with a much-shuffled selection.

With skipper Johnny Sexton and second row Tadhg Beirne out of the reckoning due to injury, this was always going to be a changed XV chosen for the Stadio Olimpico assignment.

There are three changes in the backline. Aside from first Six Nations starts being given to Ross Byrne and Craig Casey in place of the absent Sexton and the benched Conor Murray, Bundee Aki is promoted in place of Stuart McCloskey who is named on this occasion in the replacements.

James Ryan reacts to being named Ireland captain to face Italy in the Six Nations

James Ryan reacts to being named Ireland captain to face Italy in the Six Nations

In the pack, Ronan Kelleher is at hooker in place of Rob Herring, the victim of the headshot from France’s Uini Atonio the last day.

Iain Henderson takes over from the missing Beirne while Jack Conan is rotated to start in place of the benched Peter O’Mahony at No8 with Caelan Doris switching to blindside. On the bench, Dan Sheehan, Ryan Baird and Jack Crowley are the new additions.

Ireland (vs Italy, Saturday – 2:15pm)
15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 27 caps
14. Mack Hansen (Connacht/Corinthians) 11 caps
13. Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 49 caps
12. Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 43 caps
11. James Lowe (Leinster) 17 caps
10. Ross Byrne (Leinster/UCD) 16 caps
9. Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) 9 caps
1. Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 50 caps
2. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 19 caps
3. Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 29 caps
4. Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy) 70 caps
5. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 50 caps (c)
6. Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 25 caps
7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 47 caps
8. Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 35

Replacements:
16. Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne) 14 caps
17. Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 50 caps
18. Tom O’Toole (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 6 caps
19. Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University) 8 caps
20. Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 91 caps caps
21. Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 102 caps
22. Jack Crowley (Munster/Cork Constitution) 2 caps
23. Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor) 11 caps