The Ireland XV To Take On Italy
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Joe Schmidt is going to have to wait until all important French clash before he can unleash his first choice starting XV.
Robbie Henshaw has been the most notable absence so far but as he returns, two others bow out in Jared Payne and Rob Kearney.
Neither player is expected to be out for very long but Joe Schmidt but will not risk either of them before the behemoth clash with the French.
Simon Zebo is expected to remain at full back in place of Kearney while it looks like Tommy Bowe will be given another chance to play his way into the starting XV. The star-man against Romania, Keith Earls will likely be shifted into the centre.
In the forwards Healy is likely to continue his return to full-match fitness with a start while notable big guns return.
Probable Ireland team to face Italy:
15. Zebo
14. Bowe
13. Earls
12. Henshaw
11. D Kearney
10. Sexton
9. Murray
1. Healy
2. Best
3. Ross
4. Henderson
5. O’Connell (Capt)
6. O’Mahony
7. O’Brien
8. Heaslip
