Rugby-Ireland make six changes for Six Nations visit of Italy

FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union – Rugby World Cup 2023 – Pool B – South Africa v Ireland – Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France – September 23, 2023 Ireland’s Caelan Doris in action REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier/File Photo

DUBLIN (Reuters) – Ireland have made six changes to their starting lineup to face Italy in the Six Nations on Sunday, including a new captain in flanker Caelan Doris and a new-look back row as coach Andy Farrell looks at his wider squad for the clash in Dublin.

Doris, the 110th player to captain Ireland, moves from number eight to the side of the scrum with his place taken by Jack Conan. Ryan Baird is in the number six jersey in place of last week’s captain Peter O’Mahony.

Prop Finlay Bealham starts in the front row instead of Tadhg Furlong and James Ryan is at lock alongside Joe McCarthy, who keeps his place from the impressive 38-17 victory over France in Ireland’s tournament opener last weekend.

Stuart McCloskey comes in at centre for Bundee Aki, who, like Beirne and O’Mahony, drops out of the matchday 23. Scrumhalf Craig Casey will partner his Munster team mate Jack Crowley in the half-back pairing.

Ireland team:

15-Hugo Keenan, 14-Calvin Nash, 13-Robbie Henshaw, 12-Stuart McCloskey, 11-James Lowe, 10-Jack Crowley, 9-Craig Casey, 8-Jack Conan, 7-Caelan Doris (captain), 6-Ryan Baird, 5-James Ryan, 4-Joe McCarthy, 3-Finlay Bealham, 2-Dan Sheehan, 1-Andrew Porter

Replacements: 16-Ronan Kelleher, 17-Jeremy Loughman, 18-Tom O’Toole, 19-Iain Henderson, 20-Josh van der Flier, 21-Jamison Gibson-Park, 22-Harry Byrne, 23-Jordan Larmour.

(Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Ken Ferris)