Keatley gets nod ahead of Madigan for Italy game
Joe Schmidt has named his starting 15 and, as anticipated, Ian Keatley starts in the number ten shirt alongside Munster team-mate Conor Murray at scrum-half. Ian Madigan has been named among the replacements.
Rob Kearney starts at 15 with Tommy Bowe and Simon Zebo on the wings.
Jared Payne and Robbie Henshaw continue the centre partnership first seen in the November series, with Payne at outside centre and Henshaw at 12. Gordon D’arcy doesn’t feature in the squad.
In the forwards Jordi Murphy is given the nod at number eight. Peter O’Mahony starts at blindside with Sean O’Brien at openside flanker.
Paul O’Connell is joined by Devin Toner in the second row while Rory Best starts at hooker.
Jack McGrath starts at loosehead prop with Mike Ross at tighthead.
15 Rob Kearney
14 Tommy Bowe
13 Jared Payne
12 Robbie Henshaw
11 Simon Zebo
10 Ian Keatley
9 Conor Murray
8 Jordi Murphy
7 Sean O’Brien
6 Peter O’Mahony
5 Paul O’Connell
4 Devin Toner
3 Mike Ross
2 Rory Best
1 Jack McGrath
16 Sean Cronin
17 James Cronin
18 Martin Moore
19 Iain Henderson
20 Tommy O’Donnell
21 Isaac Boss
22 Ian Madigan
23 Felix Jones
