Eire have dropped Sam Prendergast with Jack Crowley set to start out at fly-half away to Italy within the Six Nations on Saturday, as Mack Hansen, James Lowe, Garry Ringrose and Tadgh Furlong additionally return to the squad.
Eire want a high-scoring victory and different outcomes to go their approach with a view to declare an historic third-straight title.
Eire’s Grand Slam goals had been crushed in final weekend’s 42-27 demolition by France they usually can solely win a 3rd crown in a row in the event that they beat Italy with a bonus level, the French fail to defeat Scotland they usually nip forward of second-placed England.
With that exterior likelihood nonetheless in play, interim coach Simon Easterby resisted the temptation to clean up his front-line gamers with the one different adjustments seeing Jack Conan and James Ryan most popular to Joe McCarthy and Peter O’Mahony within the pack.
Crowley was first-choice fly-half in his Six Nations-winning breakthrough season final 12 months however has needed to take a again seat on this 12 months’s championship as Eire handed the No. 10 jersey to 22-year-old Leinster novice Prendergast.
Furlong, who missed the primary 4 video games with damage, is match sufficient to return to the bench the place fellow prop Jack Boyle will look to win his second cap, which means there isn’t a place for Cian Healy who’s retiring on the finish of the championship.
Peter O’Mahony and Conor Murray, who plan to retire from worldwide rugby alongside Healy, are among the many replacements.
Eire XV to face Italy:
Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Finlay Bealham, James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (captain), Jamison Gibson-Park, Jack Crowley, James Lowe, Robbie Henshaw, Garry Ringrose, Mack Hansen, Hugo Keenan.
Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Jack Boyle, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Sam Prendergast, Bundee Aki.
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Italy safe historic win over Eire
Relive three traditional Six Nations video games between Eire and Italy forward of the ultimate spherical of fixtures this weekend.
– Overreactions: Marcus Smith cements fullback spot? Eire want reset?
– Tom Hamilton from Twickenham: England do Italian job, preserve title hopes
– Who may change Warren Gatland as Wales head coach?
– WATCH: Relive a few of Six Nations’ traditional video games
– Six Nations and Ladies’s Six Nations: Full fixture record
