Farrell gives Ireland's No.10 jersey to Munster hero
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has revealed his team to face Italy in their World Cup warm-up match in Dublin on Saturday.
Iain Henderson will captain the side for the second time, having previously led the team against France in February 2021.
The Ulster man will win his 73rd Test cap in green, partnering Joe McCarthy in the Ireland second row.
Ryan Baird, Caelan Doris and Jack Conan form an all-Leinster back row. The starting front row will be David Kilcoyne alongside Ulster duo Rob Herring and Tom O’Toole.
Keith Earls is set to make his 99th appearance for Ireland and starts on the right wing in a back three which includes Jimmy O’Brien and Jacob Stockdale.
Craig Casey will form a Munster halfback partnership with Jack Crowley, with Stuart McCloskey lining up alongside Robbie Henshaw in midfield.
Crowley played an integral role in Munster’s success in last season United Rugby Championship.
Ciaran Frawley, Calvin Nash and Tom Stewart are in line for their Ireland debuts should they feature from the replacements, and they are named in a bench which includes props Cian Healy and Tadhg Furlong, flank Cian Prendergast, lock Tadhg Beirne and scrumhalf Caolin Blade.
Ireland: 15 Jimmy O’Brien, 14 Keith Earls, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Caelan Doris, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 Joe McCarthy, 4 Iain Henderson (captain), 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 Rob Herring, 1 David Kilcoyne
Replacements: 16 Tom Stewart, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Tadhg Beirne, 20 Cian Prendergast, 21 Caolin Blade, 22 Ciaran Frawley, 23 Calvin Nash.
Date: Saturday, August 5
Venue: Lansdowne Road, Dublin
Kick-off: 20.00 (21.00 Italy time; 19.00 GMT)
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant referees: Pierre Brousset (France), Luc Ramos (France)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)
