Ireland name team to face Italy

The Ireland team to face Italy in Saturday's Six Nations clash in Rome shows 7 changes from the side that lost to France last time out.

Johnny Sexton returns to captain the side, however the game comes too soon for Munster scrum half Conor Murray who is continuing his recovery from a hamstring issue, Jamison Gibson Park will continue at 9 with Craig Casey hoping for his first International Cap off the bench.

Robbie Henshaw earns his 50th cap in midfield and will partner Garry Ringrose.

Jordan Larmour comes in on the wing with Keith Earls dropping to the bench, with James Lowe on the left wing and Hugo Keenan at full back.

Ronan Kelleher makes a first six Nations start at hooker, with Dave Kilkoyne and Tadgh furlong either side of him in the front row, while James Ryan returns to the second row to partner Iain Henderson.

In the back row it's Tadhg Beirne and Will Connors with CJ Stander at 8.

The replacements for the weekend are Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Andrew Porter, Jack Conan, Billy Burns, Keith Earls and the uncapped duo of Ryan Baird and Craig Casey.

15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 8 caps
14. Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 26 caps
13. Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 32 caps
12. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers) 49 caps
11. James Lowe (Leinster) 4 caps
10. Jonathan Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 96 caps CAPTAIN
9. Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 7 caps
1. Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 40 caps
2. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 8 caps
3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 46 caps
4. Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy) 60 caps
5. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 33 caps
6. Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 19 caps
7. Will Connors (Leinster/UCD) 7 caps
8. CJ Stander (Munster/Shannon) 48 caps

Replacements

16. Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 18 caps
17. Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 106 caps
18. Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 34 caps
19. Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University) uncapped
20. Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 17 caps
21. Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) uncapped
22. Billy Burns (Ulster) 5 caps
23. Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster) 90 caps