Simon Zebo and Jared Payne to start for Ireland against Italy
Friday 11 March 2016 17:23, UK
Ireland have made two changes to the team that started against England as they prepare to host Italy in the weekend's opening Six Nations match.
Simon Zebo comes in at full-back for Rob Kearney, whose ongoing hamstring injury continues to trouble him.
Fit-again Jared Payne returns to reunite his centre partnership with Robbie Henshaw, with Stuart McCloskey dropping out of the match-day squad despite an impressive debut against England.
Fly-half Jonathan Sexton will win his 60th cap at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday as Ireland bid to put the 21-10 loss to England a fortnight ago behind them, linking up once more with Conor Murray.
Rory Best captains the side with Jack McGrath and Mike Ross alongside him in the front row. The unchanged pack sees the second row partnership of Donnacha Ryan and Devin Toner retained.
Openside flanker Josh van der Flier wins his second cap alongside CJ Stander at blindside and Jamie Heaslip at No 8. Ultan Dillane, who made a big impact off the bench at Twickenham, is again among the replacements.
Sean Cronin will earn his 50th cap if introduced, having made his debut against Fiji in 2009. He scored the first of his three tries for Ireland against Italy in the 2014 Six Nations Championship.
Connacht's Kieran Marmion is preferred to Eoin Reddan as the back-up scrum-half while Fergus McFadden will cover the backline, and there is a call for uncapped Connacht prop Finlay Bealham, who replaces Cian Healy (hamstring) on the bench.
Ireland: 15 Simon Zebo, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Jared Payne, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Conor Murray; 1 Jack McGrath, 2 Rory Best (c), 3 Mike Ross, 4 Donnacha Ryan, 5 Devin Toner, 6 CJ Stander, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Jamie Heaslip.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Finlay Bealham, 18 Nathan White, 19 Ultan Dillane, 20 Rhys Ruddock, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Fergus McFadden.
