It’s an interesting centre partnership.
There are just a couple of changes in the Irish team to face Italy in the RBS Six Nations this Saturday from the one that lost to England a fortnight ago in Twickenham.
The big news is that Jarrod Payne comes in at centre in place of Stuart McCloskey, while Simon Zebo will deputise at full back for the unjured Rob Kearney.
Here is the team…
15. Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster) 23
14. Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster) 61
13. Jared Payne (Ulster) 12
12. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht) 18
11. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 48
10. Jonathan Sexton (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 59
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 45
1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) 28
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 92 Captain
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster) 57
4. Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster) 37
5. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 34
6. CJ Stander (Munster) 3
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster) 1
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) 83 Vice Captain
1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) 28
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 92 Captain
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster) 57
4. Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster) 37
5. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 34
6. CJ Stander (Munster) 3
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster) 1
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) 83 Vice Captain
Replacements
16. Sean Cronin (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 49
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 57
18. Nathan White (Connacht) 11
19. Ultan Dillane (Corinthians/Connacht) 1
20. Rhys Ruddock (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 8
21. Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht) 4
22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster) 28
23. Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 30
16. Sean Cronin (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 49
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 57
18. Nathan White (Connacht) 11
19. Ultan Dillane (Corinthians/Connacht) 1
20. Rhys Ruddock (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 8
21. Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht) 4
22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster) 28
23. Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 30
Here’s your Ireland team to play Italy #IREvITA #ShoulderToShoulder #RBS6 Nations pic.twitter.com/AQNWq5wnDs
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) March 10, 2016
Kick-off on Saturday at the Aviva Stadium is at 1.30pm.
