Four changes to the Ireland team for this Saturday’s Six Nations clash.
Ireland coach Joe Schmidt has made several changes to his starting XV and his bench for the visit of the Azzurri.
Jack McGrath, Devin Toner, Dan Leavy and Jack Conan are all drafted in, while Andrew Porter, Quinn Roux, Kieran Marmion and Jordan Larmour are all drafted onto the bench.
Schmidt addressed the media at Thursday afternoon’s team announcement, and briefing, at Carton House.
Asked for the reasoning behind some of his big selection calls, Schmidt replied:
“Some of it is mileage. CJ Stander had 42 [ruck] clean-outs and 23 carries in Paris… While it is not attritional for CJ, it is sort of a reward for Jack Conan.”
Schmidt added, “By the time we go back from Paris, on Sunday, we had some sore, tired bodies.”
Schmidt praised Conan’s recent improvements in lineout and defensive work, to add to his already impressive ball-carrying abilities.
“Dan Leavy got straight into the game. He got right into the line and carried strongly… in those sort of games we want guys to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and I think Dan did that.”
Schmidt backed Peter O’Mahony to show his nous and experience to lead a relatively young back row but has no doubts that Leavy and Conan to step up to the Italian challenge.
The Ireland coach also spoke of what it means to his team to have uncapped Leinster youngster Jordan Larmour in reserve and ready to call on.
“I expect Jordan to be providing what he has provided in all his provincial matches – that electric acceleration and change of direction,” he said.
As for the decision to stick with Johnny Sexton, rather than pushing out Joey Carbery, Schmidt leaned on the fact that he needs his No.10 game ready for the Wales and Scotland games. Carbery, though, may feature for Leinster in next weekend’s Guinness PRO14 action, said Schmidt.
