Ireland captain Rory Best misses Italy clash with Niall Scannell starting

Ireland captain Rory Best will miss the Six Nations clash with Italy because of illness with Niall Scannell starting in his place.

Best, 34, was named in Ireland's starting XV on Thursday to face Italy in Rome, but failed to make it to the captain's run at the Stadio Olimpico on Friday and did not recover in time.

With Leinster's Sean Cronin out because of a torn hamstring, uncapped Munster hooker Scannell will make his debut with Jamie Heaslip captaining the side.

Leinster's James Tracy, a late call-up to Joe Schmidt's squad on Friday, takes Scannell's place on the bench.

The untimely illness means Best sees his streak of 51 consecutive Six Nations appearances come to an end.