Four Munster players to start as Farrell names Ireland XV for Six Nations return

Andy Farrell has named his Irish squad to face Italy this Saturday in the Avivia in the fourth round of the Guinness Six Nations.

Included are four Munster men in the shape of Tadhg Beirne, CJ Stander, Conor Murray and Andrew Conway.

Peter O’Mahony is named among the substitutes.

Will Connors, Hugo Keenan, Jamison Gibson Park and Ed Byrne are all in line to make their debuts with the former duo named to start.

Johnny Sexton will captain the side from fly-half.

Kick-off at the Aviva Stadium is 3.30pm on Saturday 24^th October and the game is being televised by Virgin Media and ITV and is live in RTÉ radio.

Ireland Team & Replacements (v Italy)

15. Jacob Stockdale (Ulster/Lurgan) 28 caps
14. Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen) 21 caps
13. Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 29 caps
12. Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 26 caps
11. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) uncapped
10. Jonathan Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 91 caps Captain
9. Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 81 caps
1. Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 98 caps
2. Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 11 caps
3. Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 26 caps
4. Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 13 caps
5. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 26 caps
6. Caelan Doris (Leinster/UCD) 2 caps
7. Will Connors (Leinster/UCD) uncapped
8. CJ Stander (Munster/Shannon) 41 caps

Replacements

16. Dave Heffernan (Connacht/Buccaneers) 1 cap
17. Ed Byrne (Leinster/UCD) uncapped
18. Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Corinthians) 9 caps
19. Ultan Dillane (Connacht/Corinthians) 15 caps
20. Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 67 caps
21. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster) uncapped
22. Ross Byrne (Leinster/UCD) 6 caps
23. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers) 43 caps