Casey joins Nash and Crowley as Munster men to face Italy | IRELAND TEAM NEWS

Ireland opened their Championship with a bonus point win away in France last weekend, and return to a sold-out Aviva Stadium for their first home match of 2024 against the Azzurri.

Head Coach Andy Farrell has named three Munster men in his Ireland team to face Italy in Round 2 of the Guinness Men’s Six Nations at Aviva Stadium on Sunday afternoon, set to kick off at 3pm.

Ireland opened their Championship with a bonus point win away in France last weekend, and return to a sold-out Aviva Stadium for their first home match of 2024 against the Azzurri.

Calvin Nash and Jack Crowley keep their place in the starting side from last week’s victory in France, while Craig Casey comes in at scrum-half to complete the Munster representation.

Skipper Peter O’Mahony has not been named in the Match Day Squad, with Caelan Doris set to captain Farrell’s side for the first time, becoming the 110th player to lead out the Ireland Men’s team in Test rugby.

Farrell has selected an unchanged back three for the Round 2 clash as Hugo Keenan starts at full-back, while Nash and James Lowe continue on the wings. Robbie Henshaw is retained at outside centre, with Stuart McCloskey coming into the Ireland midfield at inside centre.

Having made his first Guinness Six Nations start last weekend in Marseille, Crowley remains at out-half and is partnered by his Munster team-mate Casey in the half-backs.

In the pack, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Finlay Bealham make up the front row, with James Ryan coming into the starting XV to partner Joe McCarthy – Player of the Match against France – in the second row.

Ryan Baird is named at blindside flanker, Doris shifts to openside and Jack Conan completes the starting team at number eight.

Sunday’s match is live on Virgin Media One in Republic of Ireland and ITV in the United Kingdom.

Ireland team to play Italy:

15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(37)
14. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster) (2)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(68)
12. Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster)(15)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(27)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(10)
9. Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster)(13)

1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(60)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(22)
3. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(37)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(6)
5. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)(60)
6. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(16)
7. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(37)(captain)
8. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(42)