Ireland Team Named for Stadio Olimpico Clash

Feb 10 • General News, International • 1211 Views • Comments Off on Ireland Team Named for Stadio Olimpico Clash

The Ireland coaching group have named the match day squad that will take on Conor O’Shea’s Italy at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Saturday afternoon in Round 2 of the 2017 RBS 6 Nations.

There are two changes to the starting XV that lined out at Murrayfield. Donnacha Ryan partners Devin Toner in the second row while Cian Healy comes in at loose-head prop to join captain Rory Best and tight-head Tadhg Furlong in the front row.

The back row trio of Jamie Heaslip, Sean O’Brien and CJ Stander combine in their fourth Test match as a unit with Paddy Jackson and Conor Murray named at half-back.

Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose fill the midfield berths with Rob Kearney at fullback flanked by Simon Zebo and Keith Earls on the wings.

The replacements named for the match in Rome are Niall Scannell, Jack McGrath, John Ryan, Ultan Dillane, Josh van der Flier, Kieran Marmion, Ian Keatley and Craig Gilroy.

IRELAND team to play Italy – Saturday 11th February 2017, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 73 caps
14. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 55 caps
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster) 4 caps
12. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster) 25 caps
11. Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster) 29 caps
10. Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster) 20 caps
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 54 caps

8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) 92 caps vc
7. Sean O’Brien (UCD/Leinster) 45 caps
6. CJ Stander (Munster) 11 caps
5. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 43 caps
4. Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster) 43 caps
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 12 caps
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 101 caps captain
1. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 63 caps

Replacements
16. Niall Scannell (Dolphin/Munster) uncapped
17. Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s/Leinster) 37 caps
18. John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster) 2 cap
19. Ultan Dillane (Corinthians/Connacht) 9 caps
20. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster) 6 caps
21. Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht) 9 caps
22. Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster) 4 caps
23. Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster) 9 caps