Ireland captain Johnny Sexton has been named on the bench for their Six Nation’s clash against Italy at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday, while fullback Michael Lowry is set to earn his first international cap.
Coach Andy Farrell has made six changes from the side’s 30-24 defeat against tournament favourites France on Feb. 12, which Sexton missed after picking up a hamstring injury in training during the build-up to the game.
Joey Carbery will start his second consecutive game at fly-half and will partner up with scrum-half Jamison Gibson Park.
Robbie Henshaw returns to the starting line-up at inside centre, with Garry Ringrose making up the centre pairing.
Lowry will be joined in the back three by wingers Mack Hansen and James Lowe.
Dan Sheehan is set to make his first start for Ireland at hooker, and is joined in the front row by Tadhg Furlong and Andrew Porter. Tadhg Beirne will be joined by Ryan Baird at lock, who replaces the injured James Ryan.
Flanker Peter O’Mahony will be the on-pitch captain, with Caelan Doris and Josh van der Flier making up the back-row.
Ireland trail leaders France by three points after securing a losing bonus point last time out, and will finish their campaign with a trip to England and a home finale against Scotland.
Meanwhile, Italy’s head coach Kieran Crowley has made three changes to his side, bringing in Pierre Bruno to replace Federico Mori on the wing and promoting Leonardo Marin from the bench to start at inside centre.
In the back row, Giovanni Pettinelli will start at blindside flanker ahead of Abraham Steyn.
Ireland XV
Michael Lowry, Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe, Joey Carbery, Jamison Gibson Park, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne, Ryan Baird, Peter O’Mahony (C), Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris caps
Replacements: Rob Herring, Dave Kilcoyne, Finlay Bealham, Kieran Treadwell, Jack Conan, Craig Casey, Johnny Sexton, James Hume
Italy XV
Edoardo Padovani, Pierre Bruno, Juan Ignacio Brex, Leonardo Marco, Montanna Ione, Paolo Garbisi, Stephen Varney, Danilo Fischetti, Gianmarco Lucchesi, Pietro Ceccarelli, Niccolo Cannone, Federico Ruzza, Giovanni Pettinelli, Michele Lamaro (C), Toa Halafihi
Replacements: Epalahame Faiva, Ivan Nemer, Tiziano Pasquali, David Sisi, Manuel Zuliani, Braam Steyn, Alessandro Fusco, Marco Zanon.