Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has made six changes to his Ireland squad from last week’s humiliating loss to France for his battle against Gonzalo Quesad’s Italy in the second round of games in this year’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations. Farrell said he saw a lack of “intent” and “fight” from his squad last week, and his changes reflect this as Ireland attempt to bounce back against an Italian side that are riding on the high of beating Gregor Townsend’s Scotland last Saturday. Ulster’s Robert Baloucoune and Cormac Izuchukwu make their Ireland debuts, while James Lowe, James Ryan, Craig Casey and Jack Conan also come into the squad. On the other hand, Jamison Gibson-Park and Taigh Beirne have dropped out of the starting XV, while Josh van der Flier, Cian Prendergast, Jacob Stockdale and Tommy O’Brien are left out of the squad altogether. Italy have made the one change, with Leonardo Marin coming in for the absent Nacho Brex.
Kickoff in tomorrow’s fixture is at 2:10.
