Crowley starts as Ireland make six changes for Italy

Men's Six Nations: Italy v Ireland

Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome Date: Saturday, 15 March Kick-off: 14:15 GMT

Coverage: Listen connected Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Sounds; substance updates and highlights connected BBC Sport website and app; ticker connected ITV1

Jack Crowley has been recalled astatine fly-half for Ireland's last Six Nations lucifer against Italy successful Rome, arsenic Sam Prendergast drops to the bench.

Munster's Crowley played each infinitesimal of Ireland's title-winning run successful 2024, but Leinster's Prendergast has started the past six Test matches.

Crowley, 25, returns to the starting XV amid reports linking him with a move, external to English Premiership broadside Leicester Tigers erstwhile his Munster woody expires this summer.

It is 1 of six changes made by interim brag Simon Easterby arsenic Ireland purpose to bounce backmost from past week's crushing decision by France that ended their Grand Slam hopes.

In the backline, determination are besides returns for fit-again wingers James Lowe and Mack Hansen, portion Garry Ringrose starts astatine extracurricular centre aft missing the France lucifer done suspension.

James Ryan is recalled to the 2nd row, replacing Joe McCarthy, and Jack Conan - who has scored tries successful Ireland's past 3 games - starts astatine blind-side flanker.

"We person freshened things up a small this week successful enactment and it's a large boost to invited backmost immoderate players from injury, alongside others who person patiently waited successful the wings for their accidental to start," said Easterby.

Having recovered from a calf injury, prop Tadhg Furlong is acceptable to marque his archetypal quality since past year's bid successful South Africa aft being named connected the bench.

Centurions Peter O'Mahony and Conor Murray volition marque their last Ireland appearances from the bench, but Cian Healy - who is besides retiring - is not included.

Ireland volition triumph a 3rd consecutive rubric if they unafraid a bonus-point triumph implicit Italy and some France and England neglect to win.

If Ireland triumph without a bonus, France and England some person to suffer for the trophy to stay successful Dublin.

A gully with a bonus oregon decision with 2 could besides beryllium capable if they decorativeness with a amended points quality implicit France and England, who indispensable some besides suffer without claiming bonus points.

Ireland: Keenan; Hansen, Ringrose, Henshaw, Lowe; Crowley, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Bealham; Ryan, Beirne; Conan, Van der Flier, Doris (capt).

Replacements: McCarthy, Boyle, Furlong, McCarthy, O'Mahony, Murray, Prendergast, Aki.

Andrew Porter and Tadhg Beirne, who were criticised by France caput manager Fabien Galthie for their portion successful Antoine Dupont's season-ending injury, are retained successful the Irish pack.

Galthie reported some players to the match's citing commissioner, but nary enactment has been taken against them, and Porter aboriginal dismissed the coach's assertion of foul play.

But fastener McCarthy drops to the seat aft being yellow-carded for cynically pulling backmost Thomas Ramos, resulting successful the punishment from which France scored their opening try.

Easterby reverts to a five-three divided of forwards and backs connected the seat aft opting for a six-two against France. Gus McCarthy and Jack Boyle articulation Furlong, McCarthy and O'Mahony arsenic forwards cover, portion Bundee Aki is the 3rd backline replacement alongside Murray and Prendergast.

Lowe, a last-minute withdrawal from the France crippled due to the fact that of a backmost spasm, returns connected the near helping arsenic Hansen is reinstated connected the close aft recovering from a quad problem.

Calvin Nash and Jamie Osborne, the starting wings against France, driblet retired of the squad.

"While determination was disappointment with definite aspects of our show past weekend, we are thankful for the accidental to get backmost connected the equine this week.

"We've shown our resilience successful caller years and I person nary crushed to judge that the crippled successful Rome this play volition beryllium immoderate different."