Ireland announce their team to face Italy

There are two changes to the starting XV that lined out at Murrayfield. Donnacha Ryan partners Devin Toner in second row while Cian Healy comes in at loose-head prop to join captain Rory Best and tight-head Tadhg Furlong.

The backrow trio of Jamie Heaslip, Sean O'Brien and CJ Stander combine for just their fourth Test start with Paddy Jackson and Conor Murray named at half-back.

 

Ireland Team & Replacements

15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 73 caps
14. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 55 caps
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster) 4 caps
12. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster) 25 caps
11. Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster) 29 caps
10. Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster) 20 caps
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 54 caps

3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 12 caps
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 101 caps captain
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 12 caps
4. Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster) 43 caps
5. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 43 caps
6. CJ Stander (Munster) 11 caps
7. Sean O'Brien (UCD/Leinster) 45 caps
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) 92 caps vc

Replacements
16. Niall Scannell (Dolphin/Munster) uncapped
17. Jack McGrath (St. Mary's/Leinster) 37 caps
18. John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster) 2 cap
19. Ultan Dillane (Corinthians/Connacht) 9 caps
20. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster) 6 caps
21. Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht) 9 caps
22. Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster) 4 caps
23. Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster) 9 caps