IRELAND XV (v Italy)
Hugo Keenan (Leinster); Mack Hansen (Connacht), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), James Lowe (Leinster); Jack Crowley (Munster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster); Andrew Porter (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht); James Ryan (Leinster), Tadhg Beirne (Munster); Jack Conan (Leinster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster, capt).
Replacements: Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Jack Boyle (Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Conor Murray (Munster), Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Bundee Aki (Connacht).
Now that we’ve dealt with the most pressing aspect of the day, let’s remind ourselves of what we’re facing into this weekend.
Commit this to memory:
The Six Nations social media accounts are covering all their bases in saying four teams are in the running for the championship, because yes, TECHNICALLY Scotland can still win.
But, for the week that’s in it, the odds are akin to a falabella winning the Gold Cup.
Gregor Townsend’s side would need to beat France with a bonus point, denying their hosts a losing or try-scoring bonus point in the process, and make up their points differential to Les Bleus (currently 101). Oh, and that’s without even considering Ireland or England’s results.
You know what? Good luck to them. We love an underdog.
So there we have it.
Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby will face the wicked press at midday, from which Gerry will send us all the goss.
Not ones to be rushed, the Italians will name their team at 1.30pm Irish time.
And here’s Gerry Thornley’s take:
As expected, Jack Crowley has been restored at outhalf in one of six changes to the Ireland starting XV for their final 2025 Six Nations game against Italy on Saturday in the Stadio Olimpico (kick-off 2.15pm Irish).
Both Mack Hansen and Jame Lowe return on the wings after recovering from the injuries which ruled them out of last week’s defeat to France, as does outside centre Garry Ringrose, returning from suspension, with Robbie Henshaw reverting to inside centre.
James Ryan is restored at lock after starting the opening two wins over England and Scotland, and Jack Conan’s form is rewarded with a second start, this time with 6 on his back, after his first against Wales at number 8 was cut short.
Peter O’Mahony will join Conor Murray on the bench for their international farewells, but Cian Healy’s 137-cap international career has come to an end after he signed off with a 13th Test try in last week’s defeat, Jack Boyle instead named on the bench after his eye-catching 10-minute cameo against Wales.
As Simon Easterby reverts to a 5-3 split, they are joined by Tadhg Furlong for his first appearance of this year’s Six Nations after recovering from the calf issues which have again dogged the two-time Lions’ tight head and sidelined him since Leinster’s win in La Rochelle in January.
With Furlong’s experience to call upon, Gus McCarthy also returns to the match-day squad in place of Rob Herring, while Joe McCarthy, Sam Prendergast and Bundee Aki, who all started last week, complete the replacements.
As well as Healy and Herring, Jamie Osborne, Calvin Nash, Thomas Clarkson and Ryan Baird all miss out.
Crowley’s return to the starting XV comes after an offer by Leicester Tigers to more than double his existing deal with Munster and the IRFU when his contract expires at the end of this season became public.
An ever-present in last season’s Six Nations title defence and in the summer Tests against the Springboks, Crowley was relegated to second-choice outhalf from the midway point in the November series until this week.
After a strong performance as a replacement at number 10 for the final quarter in the opening-round win over England, Crowley has since been restricted to stints of 14, eight and 24 minutes, all at fullback, in Ireland’s ensuing three games.
Saturday will mark his first start for Ireland at outhalf since the win over Argentina in the second game of the Autumn Nations Series.
And here’s the Ireland team to face Italy at Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.
IRELAND: Hugo Keenan (Leinster); Mack Hansen (Connacht), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), James Lowe (Leinster); Jack Crowley (Munster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster); Andrew Porter (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht); James Ryan (Leinster), Tadhg Beirne (Munster); Jack Conan (Leinster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster, capt).
Replacements: Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Jack Boyle (Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Conor Murray (Munster), Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Bundee Aki (Connacht).
Fifteen minutes to the Ireland team announcement.
Where did it all go wrong for Ireland against France? That was the topic of discussion for the latest episode of the Counter Ruck podcast.
Nathan Johns was joined by Gordon D’Arcy to chat about last weekend’s result and whether it’s time for Ireland to panic.
Is it easy to over-react to Ireland’s French defeat?
And if predictions aren’t your thing, here’s Johnny Watterson’s squad update from earlier this week.
[ Furlong, Lowe and Kelleher take part in Ireland training ahead of Italy tripOpens in new window ]
So that would be Tadhg Furlong back from a calf injury and James Lowe recovered after the back spasm he suffered during the warm-up ahead of the French game.
Also ready to return to action is Garry Ringrose having served his suspension for his read card against Wales.
Now that we’re less than an hour out from the Ireland team announcement, how about we look at Gerry Thornley’s predictions?
He was on the money last week, let’s see how he fares this time around.
IRELAND (possible v Italy): Hugo Keenan (Leinster); Mack Hansen (Connacht), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), James Lowe (Leinster); Jack Crowley (Munster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster); Andrew Porter (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht); James Ryan (Leinster), Tadhg Beirne (Munster); Jack Conan (Leinster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster, capt).
Replacements: Rob Herring (Ulster), Jack Boyle (Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Conor Murray (Munster), Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Bundee Aki (Connacht).
Lots to digest there.
If Gerry’s right, this would mark Jack Crowley’s first start at outhalf in this year’s tournament, Sam Prendergast making way.
While that may divide opinion, something on which we can all surely agree is that it’ll be great to see Tadhg Furlong make an appearance.
He left Ireland’s pre-tournament training camp in Portugal early due to a calf injury and hasn’t been available for any of Ireland’s games to this point.
Read Gerry’s full piece below:
Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada is due to name his team at 1.30pm Irish time.
We’ll keep you posted.
Our interim fearless leader Simon Easterby is due to name his team at 11am.
He’s been mightily prompt thus far, big thumbs up from me.
Until then, we’ll go through some news, analysis and commentary from our rugby writers and contributors, and follow up the team announcement with some reaction and the full lowdown from Easterby’s press conference.
Good morning everyone. Our last squad announcement live blog of the 2025 Six Nations.
Are we still feeling a little deflated about last weekend? Yes. Are we going to let that spoil Super Saturday? No. Because there’s still a chance, slim and all as it may be.
Expert in all things permutations, John O’Sullivan got the calculator out to see what needs to transpire in order for Ireland to claim a third successive title, a feat never achieved before in the Six Nations.
Have a read of his piece below:
In short, Ireland need a big bonus-point win, for England to at least not win with a bonus point and for France to simply not win.
Simple. Easy. Oh God.
Ireland travel to Rome to face Italy in their last game of the 2025 Six Nations on Saturday.
Having gone undefeated in the opening three rounds, Simon Easterby’s side suffered a bruising defeat to France at the Aviva Stadium last weekend.
Fabien Galthié’s men now lead the championship on 16 points, followed by England on 15 and then Ireland on 14.
A win for France against Scotland in Paris would earn them the title regardless of the weekend’s other two results, but should the Scots pull off a major upset England and Ireland could enter the fray.
A bonus-point win for England would leave them ahead of Ireland, Steve Borthwick’s side facing last-place Wales in Cardiff.
But to have any chance of pulling off the historic three-peat, Ireland will firstly need a strong win over Italy at Stadio Olimpico (kick-off 2.15pm Irish time).
