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Six changes for Ireland, including the return of Jack Crowley
By Liam Heagney
Interim Ireland boss Simon Easterby has reacted to last Saturday’s damaging home loss to France by making six changes to their starting team to take on Italy this weekend.
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The Irish had their hopes of an unprecedented hat-trick of Guinness Six Nations titles jolted by the 27-42 loss that sent them tumbling from first to third place on the table after four rounds.
It leaves them relying on results elsewhere, as well as needing to beat Italy, to successfully defend the title and Easterby has now unveiled a team showing four backline alterations, two more in the pack and a rejigged bench which this week reverts to a 5-3 split after last weekend’s 6-2 tactic.
Fit-again wingers Mack Hansen and James Lowe have been included at the expense of the demoted Jamie Osborne and Calvin Nash, while Garry Ringrose, having completed his suspension, is named at outside centre with Bundee Aki dropping to the bench and Robbie Henshaw moving into inside centre.
The fourth and final backline switch sees Jack Crowley promoted for his first start of the 2025 championship with Sam Prendergast dropping to the bench. It’s a timely elevation for the Munster No10 given this week’s transfer speculation that Leicester are interested in bringing him to the Gallagher Premiership next season.
In the pack, subs James Ryan and Jack Conan have been upgraded at the expense of Joe McCarthy and Peter O’Mahony, who will provide bench cover along with Gus McCarthy, who takes over as the hooker sub from Rob Herring, and Jack Boyle, who is named in place of Cian Healy.
The fit-again Tadhg Furlong, who has yet to play Test rugby in 2024/25, also makes his long-awaited return to the fold, with Thomas Clarkson dropping out as the tighthead cover behind Finlay Bealham.
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Easterby said in an IRFU statement: “We have freshened things up a little this week in selection and it’s a great boost to welcome back some players from injury, alongside others who have patiently waited in the wings for their chance to start.
“We are aware of Italy’s many threats and we know from experience that travelling to Rome presents a serious challenge, so the squad understands its responsibilities. While there was disappointment with certain aspects of our performance last weekend, we are thankful for the chance to get back on the horse this week.
“We have shown our resilience in recent years and I have no reason to believe that the game in Rome this weekend will be any different. The attitude of the players has been spot on since we gathered on Sunday evening.
“You can sense a determination amongst everyone to give their best performance of the campaign. That is both the challenge and the opportunity that faces us this week.
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“A lot has been made about the various permutations at play, and it certainly makes for a dramatic day of international rugby. Our primary focus is on our performance and we are determined to finish our campaign on a positive note.”
Ireland (vs Italy, Saturday)
15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster) (45)
14. Mack Hansen (Corinthians/Connacht) (27)
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster) (66)
12. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster) (81)
11. James Lowe (Leinster) (39)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster) (23)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster) (42)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster) (74)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster) (31)
3. Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht) (50)
4. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) (71)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster) (60)
6. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) (50)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster) (72)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster) (captain) (50)
Replacements:
16. Gus McCarthy (UCD/Leinster) (3)
17. Jack Boyle (UCD/Leinster) (1)
18. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) (78)
19. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster) (18)
20. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) (113)
21. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) (124)
22. Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster) (7)
23. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht) (64)
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Finally, Jack Crowley to start. A good decision to lift the pressure from the younger and very promising Sam Prendergast. This is how it should have been, imo, for every game this 6N.