Gilroy back to face Italy

Editor

Ireland have made one change in the backs to their starting side to face Italy in Rome on Saturday, with Craig Gilroy on the wing.

Ireland have made one change in the backs to their starting XV to face Italy in Rome on Saturday, with Craig Gilroy on the wing.

Gilroy, who missed the game against France with a groin strain, returns in place of Fergus McFadden who is unavailable due to a rib injury.

Jonathan Sexton has been ruled out after being originally named at fly-half, with Paddy Jackson starting at 10 and Ian Madigan on the bench.

There are also further changes among the replacements with Devin Toner coming into the match squad in place of Donncha O'Callaghan, along with Paul Marshall for the injured Eoin Reddan.

Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Craig Gilroy, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Luke Marshall, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jamie Heaslip (c) 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 Peter O'Mahony, 5 Donnacha Ryan, 4 Mike McCarthy, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 David Kilcoyne, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Devin Toner, 20 Iain Henderson, 21 Paul Marshall, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Luke Fitzgerald.

Date: Saturday, March 16
Kick-off: 15:30 (14:30 GMT)
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Television match official: Jim Yuille (Scotland)