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Zebo answers Ireland's call

By
Thursday 10 Mar 2016

Rob Kearney is ruled out of the match and his place goes to Simon Zebo.

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The fit again Jared Payne – who issed the 10-21 loss to England with hamstring trouble – returns to partner Robbie Henshaw in the centres, with the latter reverting to No.12 after having lined up at No.13 against England.

Jonathan Sexton will win his 60th cap on Saturday, as he lines out alongside Conor Murray in the halfbacks.Zebo answers Ireland's call

Josh van der Flier will win his second cap on Saturday, following his debut against England, as he runs out for the first time in an Ireland jersey on home soil.

Ultan Dillane is on the bench and will hope to make his home bow to win his second cap.

Rory Best will become the seventh Irish player to hit a half-century in the championship – after Brian O'Driscoll, Ronan O'Gara, Mike Gibson, John Hayes, Willie John McBride and Paul O'Connell.

Replacement hooker Sean Cronin is set to earn his 50th cap if he comes on from the bench on Saturday.

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Cronin made his debut against Fiji in 2009.

He scored the first of his three tries for Ireland against Italy in the 2014 Six Nations Championship.

Kieran Marmion and Fergus McFadden are also included in the replacements.

Zebo answers Ireland's call

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Date: Saturday, March 12

Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Kick-off: 13.30 (14.30 Italy time; 13.30 GMT)

Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)

Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)

TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)

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