The Ireland team to face Italy in the Six Nations in Rome on Saturday has been named.
There’s no room for Carlow man Ed Byrne as Dave Kilcoyne returns from injury to start in the front row with Ronan Kelleher and Tadgh Furlong.
Craig Casey and Ryan Baird are in line for their first international caps off the bench.
Johnny Sexton returns to captain the side and partners Jamison Gibson Park in the halfbacks as Conor Murray is still injured.
The Ireland coaching group has made seven changes to the side that started against France.
“Stadio Olimpico di Torino” by pablocanateam is licensed under CC by-nc-2.0
Robbie Henshaw will again partner Garry Ringrose in the midfield. Hugo Keenan retains the No.15 jersey with James Lowe on the left-wing and Jordan Larmour coming in on the right-hand side.
James Ryan returns to the second row to partner Iain Henderson.
Tadgh Beirne shifts to the back row filling the blindside role with Will Connors at openside and CJ Stander at No.8.
The replacements for the weekend are Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Andrew Porter, Jack Conan, Billy Burns, Keith Earls, and the uncapped duo of Baird and Casey.
Ireland v Italy, Stadio Olimpico, Saturday, February 27, kick-off 2:15 pm.
15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 8 caps
14. Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 26 caps
13. Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 32 caps
12. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers) 49 caps
11. James Lowe (Leinster) 4 caps
10. Jonathan Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 96 caps CAPTAIN
9. Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 7 caps
1. Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 40 caps
2. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 8 caps
3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 46 caps
4. Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy) 60 caps
5. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 33 caps
6. Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 19 caps
7. Will Connors (Leinster/UCD) 7 caps
8. CJ Stander (Munster/Shannon) 48 caps
Replacements
16. Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 18 caps
17. Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 106 caps
18. Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 34 caps
19. Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University) uncapped
20. Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 17 caps
21. Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) uncapped
22. Billy Burns (Ulster) 5 caps
23. Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster) 90 caps