Crowley to start as Ireland name squad for warmup clash with Italy
Jack Crowley will get a first opportunity of the summer to stake his claim at out-half for Ireland, with the Munster man starting at 10 in Saturday’s opening Rugby World Cup warm-up against Italy at the Aviva Stadium.
The 23-year-old will win his fourth cap and earn his second Irish start against the Azzurri in the Bank of Ireland Nations Series, with Ciarán Frawley, Calvin Nash and Tom Stewart all set to make their debuts off the bench.
As captain and regular out-half Johnny Sexton is suspended, Ulster’s Iain Henderson will skipper the side for the second time, having also done so against France in 2021.
Henderson is partnered by Joe McCarthy in the second row, with the Leinster man in line to make his first Test start, while the back row is an all-Leinster trio of Ryan Baird, Caelan Doris and Jack Conan, with Doris surprisingly picked at openside flanker.
Head coach Andy Farrell has rested several of his frontline stars, but there is plenty of Test experience, with the likes of Dave Kilcoyne and Rob Herring in the front row, while the pair are joined in the pack by Tom O’Toole.
In the backline, Crowley is joined in the half-backs by his Munster teammate Craig Casey, while Stuart McCloskey and Robbie Henshaw team up in a powerful centre pairing.
Keith Earls will make his 99th Test appearance on the right wing, with Jacob Stockdale earning a first Test place in two years on the left, and Jimmy O’Brien starting at full-back.
As well as the potential debuts for Stewart, Frawley and Nash on the bench, Cian Healy, Tadhg Furlong and Tadhg Beirne will provide experience in reserve, while Connacht pair Cian Prendergast and Caolin Blade are in line to win their second caps.
Meanwhile, English-born wing Paolo Odogwu and lock Dino Lamb will make their Test debuts for Italy, among nine changes from last week’s defeat to Scotland.
Ireland: Jimmy O’Brien; Keith Earls, Robbie Henshaw, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Dave Kilcoyne, Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole; Iain Henderson (capt), Joe McCarthy; Ryan Baird, Caelan Doris, Jack Conan.
Replacements: Tom Stewart, Cian Healy, Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne, Cian Prendergast, Caolin Blade, Ciarán Frawley, Calvin Nash.
Italy: Tommaso Allan; Paolo Odogwu, Juan Ignacio Brez, Tommaso Menoncello, Montanna Ioane; Paolo Garbisi, Stephen Varney; Danilo Fischetti, Giacomo Nicotera, Marco Riccioni; Dino Lamb, Federico Ruzza (capt); Sebastian Negri, Manuel Zuliani, Toa Halafihi.
Replacements: Luca Bigi, Paolo Buonfiglio, Simone Ferrari, Niccolo Cannone, Michele Lamaro, Lorenzo Cannone, Alessandro Fusco, Lorenzo Pani.
