Sean Cronin starts for Ireland in Rome

Editor

Ireland have announced their team to face Italy in their Six Nations clash on Sunday, with Sean Cronin named at hooker for the showdown in Rome.

Peter O’Mahony will captain the side – the first time he will lead Ireland in the Championship. He first captained Ireland on the summer tour to North America in 2013 and recently led the tour party in Australia.

O’Mahony is joined in the back-row by Sean O’Brien and Jordi Murphy. Quinn Roux is partnered by Ultan Dillane in the second-row with Dave Kilcoyne, Cronin and Tadhg Furlong making up the front-row. This will be Cronin’s first start in a Six Nations Championship match.

Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton start in the half-backs with Bundee Aki and Chris Farrell filling the centre berths. Rob Kearney is joined in the backfield by Jacob Stockdale and Keith Earls.

The uncapped Jack Carty is named in the replacements and alongside John Cooney and Andrew Conway. Niall Scannell, Jack McGrath and John Ryan are the front-row cover with Iain Henderson and Josh van der Flier also named.

Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Keith Earls, 13 Chris Farrell, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Johnny Sexton, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jordi Murphy, 7 Sean O’Brien, 6 Peter O’Mahony (c), 5 Quinn Roux, 4 Ultan Dillane, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Sean Cronin, 1 Dave Kilcoyne
Replacements: 16 Niall Scannell, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 John Ryan, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Josh van der Flier, 21 John Cooney, 22 Jack Carty, 23 Andrew Conway

Date: Sunday, February 24
Venue: Stadio Olimpico
Kick-off: 16:00 local (15:00 GMT)
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Karl Dickson (England)
Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)

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