Sean Cronin will make his long-awaited first start in Rugby’s Greatest Championship after being named in Joe Schmidt’s Ireland team to face Italy.
The 32-year-old hooker, who is set to earn his 68th cap, will be involved from the opening whistle in a Guinness Six Nations match after featuring off the bench in his previous 32 appearances.
Cronin, who is in line to make his tenth start for his country, replaces Rory Best, who drops out of the matchday 23 altogether.
In Best’s absence, Peter O’Mahony will skipper Ireland at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, with Ireland making four changes.
Dave Kilcoyne starts at loosehead prop, lock Ultan Dillane is also handed a start, while Jordi Murphy also comes into the back row.
Fly-half Jack Carty, who is named on the bench, could earn his first Ireland cap, while Iain Henderson also joins the replacements.
Ireland team to face Italy:
15.Rob Kearney (Leinster) 14. Keith Earls (Munster) 13. Chris Farrell (Munster) 12. Bundee Aki (Connacht) 11. Jacob Stockdale (Ulster) 10. Jonathan Sexton (Leinster) 9. Conor Murray (Munster) 1. Dave Kilcoyne (Munster) 2. Sean Cronin (Leinster) 3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster) 4. Ultan Dillane (Connacht) 5. Quinn Roux (Connacht) 6. Peter O’Mahony (Munster) 7. Sean O’Brien (Leinster) 8. Jordi Murphy (Ulster)
Replacements: 16. Niall Scannell (Munster) 17. Jack McGrath (Leinster) 18. John Ryan (Munster) 19. Iain Henderson (Ulster) 20. Josh van der Flier (Leinster) 21. John Cooney (Ulster) 22. Jack Carty (Connacht) 23. Andrew Conway (Munster)
