Ireland rugby team to play Italy (Kick Off 2:30pm)

Joe Schmidt has named the Ireland rugby team to play Italy this Saturday in the Aviva Stadium (Kick off 2:30pm).

Iain Henderson lines out at blindside flanker in place of the sidelined Peter O’Mahony and will form a backrow partnership with Ulster colleague Chris Henry and Ireland vice-captain Jamie Heaslip.

Paul O’Connell leads the side and packs down in an unchanged front five alongside Devin Toner, Cian Healy, Rory Best and Mike Ross.

Johnny Sexton has recovered from a thumb injury to take his place in the backline that started against England and Wales.

There are a couple of changes on the bench with Rhys Ruddock replacing Henderson who starts andEoin Reddan coming in for Isaac Boss who is rested this week.

Brian O’Driscoll becomes the most capped test player in rugby history today claiming his 140^th test appearance (132 Ireland 8 Lions).

IRELAND Team Replacements v Italy, Aviva Stadium, Dublin, 
RBS 6 Nations Championship, Saturday 8^th March kick-off 14:30 GMT

Player/Club/Province/Caps 

15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 52

14. Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster) 53

13. Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) 131 

12. Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster) 77

11. Dave Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster) 5

10. Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92) 41

9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 25

8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) 63

7. Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster) 12

6. Iain Henderson (Ballinahinch/Ulster) 8  

5. Paul O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster) 90 capt

4. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 13

3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster) 37

2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 73

1. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 45

Replacements

16. Sean Cronin (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) 33

17. Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) 6

18. Martin Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster) 3

19. Rhys Ruddock (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 1

20. Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster) 1

21. Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster) 52

22. Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster) 8

23. Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 24

Comments

Article source: http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12505/9158482/six-nations-tommy-seymour-insists-scotland-better-than-results-suggest

Ireland rugby team to play Italy (Kick Off 2:30pm)