Pivotal.

Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby is due to name his Ireland team later today and it looks like he’s going to be making a key change to his starting line-up.

The men in green were humbled by France in Dublin last weekend with their chances of retaining the championship quite low but, as we say in sport – anything can happen.

Fresh from reports that Leicester Tigers are chasing his signature, it looks like Jack Crowley will start against Italy. The Irish Times reports that the Munster fly-half will get the nod at 10 over Sam Prendergast, who has started all four games in the championship so far.

IRELAND (possible v Italy): Hugo Keenan (Leinster); Mack Hansen (Connacht), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), James Lowe (Leinster); Jack Crowley (Munster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster); Andrew Porter (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht); James Ryan (Leinster), Tadhg Beirne (Munster); Jack Conan (Leinster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster), Caelan Doris ((Leinster, capt).

Replacements: Rob Herring (Ulster), Jack Boyle (Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Conor Murray (Munster), Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Bundee Aki (Connacht).