| Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin Date: Sunday, 11 February Kick-off: 15:00 GMT |
| Coverage: Listen on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra & BBC Radio Ulster; reside textual content updates, report, response & highlights on BBC Sport web site & app |
Ulster centre Stuart McCloskey has been recalled to the Ireland workforce as one in all six modifications for Sunday’s Six Nations match against Italy.
McCloskey didn’t make the matchday squad for final week’s win in France however returns to companion Robbie Henshaw.
Back row Caelan Doris will captain Ireland for the primary time with Peter O’Mahony not included within the squad.
Craig Casey replaces Jamison Gibson-Park at scrum-half, with Jack Crowley retained at fly-half.
There are 4 modifications within the Irish pack as Finlay Bealham, James Ryan, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan return.
Conan’s inclusion within the line-up means Doris shifts from quantity eight to openside flanker.
With Crowley preserving his place at out-half, his Munster team-mate Calvin Nash can also be retained after a try-scoring debut within the bonus-point win over France.
Nash is a part of an unchanged again three with Hugo Keenan and James Lowe.
Leinster’s Joe McCarthy, one other spectacular Six Nations debutant final week, might be partnered within the second row by Ryan with Tadhg Beirne rested
Captain O’Mahony shouldn’t be a part of the matchday 23 whereas Garry Ringrose once more misses out after being dominated out of the France sport with a shoulder damage.
Bundee Aki and Tadhg Furlong, each of whom began in France, are additionally lacking from the 23.
Ulster’s Tom O’Toole and Iain Henderson are referred to as up as forwards replacements, with Harry Byrne in line to earn his third cap as the out-half substitute.
Jordan Larmour can also be set to earn his first cap since 2021 with Farrell reverting to a 5-3 cut up of forwards and backs on the bench having opted for 6-2 against France.
Ireland: Keenan; Nash, Henshaw, McCloskey, Lowe; Crowley, Casey; Porter, Sheehan, Bealham, McCarthy, Ryan, Baird, Doris, Conan.
Replacements: Kelleher, Loughman, O’Toole, Henderson, Van der Flier, Gibson-Park, Byrne, Larmour.
Italy: Capuozzo; Pani, Brex, Menoncello, Ioane; P Garbisi, Varney; Fischetti, Lucchesi, Ceccarelli, N Cannone, Ruzza, Izekor, Zuliani, Lamaro (capt).
Replacements: Nicotera, Spagnolo, Zilocchi, Zambonin, Vintcent, Page-Relo, Allan, Mori.
Referee: Luke Pearce (Eng)
