Ireland hosts Italy on Sunday without captain Peter O’Mahony or center Bundee Aki for the second day of the Six Nations Tournament, the defending champions having made six changes after the initial victory in France (38-17) .
The captaincy is entrusted for the first time to Caelan Doris, 25-year-old flanker, a regular member of Andy Farrell’s team since his debut in 2020.
Also read 6 Nations: when and on which channel to watch Ireland-Italy?
The coach has decided to rest certain executives such as captain O’Mahony, Aki (discomfort in a thigh), Tadhg Furlong and Tadhg Beirne, in anticipation of the upcoming shocks in the Tournament, notably against Wales in two weeks. .
Used in N.8 against France in Marseille, Doris moves to the right side to leave the third center line position to Jack Conan, while Ryan Baird occupies the left flank.
Jack Crowley, designated successor to Johnny Sexton, retains his place at fly-half but he changes partner in the hinge: his Munster teammate, Craig Casey (24 years old, 14th selection), was preferred as scrum-half to Jamison Gibson -Park, substitute.
The experienced Josh van der Flier, Iain Henderson and Jordan Larmour will also start the game on the bench.
At the back, no change however: Hugo Keenan retains the No.15, with Calvin Nash and James Lowe on the wings.
Ireland made a strong impression against the Blues at the opening of the Tournament and aims to be the first team to achieve the Grand Slam twice consecutively since the transition to six nations. Opposite, Italy is coming off a narrow 28-25 defeat at home against England.
Composition de l’équipe d’Irlande contre l’Italie: Keenan – Nash, Henshaw, McCloskey, Lowe – (o) Crowley, (m) Casey – Doris (cap.), Conan, Baird – Ryan, McCarthy – Bealham, Sheenan, Porter.
Subs: Kelleher, Loughman, O’Toole, Henderson, Van der Flier, Gibson-Park, Byrne, Larmour
