Azzurri Test.

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt is set to stick with the same backline that failed to unlock the France defence last Saturday, for the visit of Italy to Dublin, according to Murray Kinsella of The42.

He is however, expected to bring Jordan Larmour into the matchday 23 for the Six Nations encounter, with the Leinster prodigy likely to make his international bow at some stage from the replacements bench.

In the pack, Jack McGrath, as expected, will come in to replace Cian Healy, while it’s maintained Devin Toner will be restored to the starting line-up in place of James Ryan.

Dan Leavy is set to replace the injured Josh van der Flier, as he did in France, while the ever-present CJ Stander is set for a rare start from the bench with Jack Conan set to take his place.

Possible Ireland team vs Italy 

15. Rob Kearney
14. Keith Earls
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Bundee Aki
11. Jacob Stockdale
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Conor Murray

1. Jack McGrath
2. Rory Best (captain)
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Devin Toner
5. Iain Henderson
6. Peter O’Mahony
7. Dan Leavy
8. Jack Conan

Replacements:

16. Sean Cronin
17. Cian Healy
18. Andrew Porter
19. Ultan Dillane/Quinn Roux
20. CJ Stander
21. Kieran Marmion
22. Joey Carbery
23. Jordan Larmour