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Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has overhauled his starting lineup for Saturday’s Six Nations clash against Italy, making six changes following a heavy 36-14 opening-round defeat to France.
The most significant move is the return of veteran wing James Lowe, whose surprise exclusion from the previous matchday squad fuelled intense debate.
Lowe is joined by Ulster’s Robert Baloucoune, who is set to make his Six Nations debut on the opposite wing, as Farrell seeks to revitalise an Irish attack that remained scoreless throughout the first half in Paris.
The shake-up extends to the half-backs and the pack, signalling a ruthless approach to performance. Craig Casey replaces Jamison Gibson-Park at scrum-half to partner with young fly-half Sam Prendergast.
Despite a statistically poor defensive showing against the French—missing seven tackles—Prendergast has retained his starting role, with the more defensively reliable Jack Crowley remaining on the bench.
In a move that underscored Farrell’s “form-first” policy, 2022 World Player of the Year Josh van der Flier was dropped from the squad entirely, paving the way for Cormac Izuchukwu to earn his first tournament start at flanker.
Reinforcements have also arrived in the tight five, with veteran lock James Ryan and No. 8 Jack Conan returning to the starting XV to provide leadership and physicality.
There is further good news on the injury front, as star prop Tadhg Furlong has recovered sufficiently to take a spot on the bench.
Farrell also highlighted the inclusion of Munster’s Edwin Edogbo among the replacements, noting that the young lock’s potential Test debut would be a “special day” for the player and his former amateur clubs.
While Ireland enter the match as favourites, they face an Italian side brimming with confidence after an opening victory over Scotland.
Italy have only won once in Dublin—back in 2013—but Farrell warned that a “consistently high standard” is required to avoid another setback.
The Irish camp has reported a sharp, positive reaction in training this week, with the coaching staff demanding a performance that restores the team’s reputation as title contenders before the championship progresses further.
