Ireland team announced for first home fixture of 2018 NatWest 6 Nations
The Ireland coaching group have named the match day squad for their first home game of 2018 as they host Conor O'Shea's Italy at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Rory Best captains the side on the occasion of his 108th cap and is joined in the front row by Jack McGrath and Tadhg Furlong. Iain Henderson and Devin Toner line-out in the second row with Peter O'Mahony at blindside, Dan Leavy on the openside and Jack Conan at No.8.
Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton continue at half-back with Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw in midfield. The back three of Rob Kearney at fullback with Keith Earls and Jacob Stockdale on the wings is retained from Paris.
The replacements are Sean Cronin, Cian Healy, Andrew Porter, Quinn Roux, CJ Stander, Kieran Marmion, Joey Carbery and Jordan Larmour.
IRELAND Squad to play Italy – Aviva Stadium, Saturday 10th February, 2018
15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 79 caps
14. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 63 caps
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster) 32 caps
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht) 3 caps
11. Jacob Stockdale (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 5 caps
10. Johnny Sexton (St Mary's College/Leinster) 69 caps
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 60 caps
1. Jack McGrath (St Mary's College/Leinster) 43 caps
2. Rory Best (c) (Banbridge/Ulster) 107 caps
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 20 caps
4. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 35 caps
5. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 54 caps
6. Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 43 caps
7. Dan Leavy (UCD/Leinster) 5 caps
8. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 5 caps
Replacements
16. Sean Cronin (St Mary's College/Leinster) 57 caps
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 74 caps
18. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster) 3 caps
19. Quinn Roux (Galwegians/Connacht) 3 caps
20. CJ Stander (Shannon/Munster) 19 caps
21. Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht) 18 caps
22. Joey Carbery (Clontarf/Leinster) 6 caps
23. Jordan Larmour (St Mary's College/Leinster) 0 caps