Interim Ireland head coach Simon Easterby has made six changes to the starting line-up to face Italy in the side’s final Six Nations 2025 match.

For a match Ireland probably have to win (ideally with a bonus point) to stand any chance of winning the championship, Easterby has shuffled his back line. The most notable change is Munster fly-half Jack Crowley coming in for Sam Prendergast, who’s started Ireland’s four previous games.

Garry Ringrose comes in at outside centre after completing his suspension, while James Lowe (a late withdrawal against France) and Mack Hansen are brought in on the wings. Scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park, full-back Hugo Keenan and centre Robbie Henshaw continue from last week.

Ireland have made two changes to the pack that faced France. James Ryan replaces Joe McCarthy at lock, while Jack Conan gets the nod over Peter O’Mahony at blindside flanker. Otherwise it’s business as usual, with a front row of Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Finlay Bealham, Tadhg Beirne partnering Ryan and lock, and Josh van der Flier and captain Caelan Doris completing the back row.

Having deployed a 6-2 split on the bench against France, Ireland revert to much changed 5-3 configuration against Italy. Tadhg Furlong returns after a lengthy injury lay-off as replacement tighthead, with hooker Gus McCarthy and loosehead Jack Boyle also new additions to the 23. Conor Murray keeps his place as substitute scrum-half, while Joe McCarthy, Peter O’Mahony, Sam Prendergast and Bundee Aki have all dropped out of last week’s XV.

“We have freshened things up a little this week in selection and it’s a great boost to welcome back some players from injury, alongside others who have patiently waited in the wings for their chance to start,” said Easterby. “We’re aware of Italy’s many threats and we know from experience that travelling to Rome presents a serious challenge, so the squad understands its responsibilities.

“A lot has been made about the various permutations at play [in the championship table], and it certainly makes for a dramatic day of international rugby. Our primary focus is on our performance and we are determined to finish our campaign on a positive note.”

Italy v Ireland kicks off at 2.15pm GMT on Saturday 15 March.

• Tune in: How to watch Italy v Ireland

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Ireland Six Nations team v Italy

15. Hugo Keenan
14. Mack Hansen
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. James Lowe
10. Jack Crowley
9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Andrew Porter
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Finlay Bealham
4. James Ryan
5. Tadhg Beirne
6. Jack Conan
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris (captain)

Replacements:
16. Gus McCarthy
17. Jack Boyle
18. Tadhg Furlong
19. Joe McCarthy
20. Peter O’Mahony
21. Conor Murray
22. Sam Prendergast
23. Bundee Aki

Ireland Six Nations team v France

15. Hugo Keenan
14. Jamie Osborne
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Bundee Aki
11. Calvin Nash
10. Sam Prendergast
9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Andrew Porter
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Finlay Bealham
4. Joe McCarthy
5. Tadhg Beirne
6. Peter O’Mahony
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris (captain)

Replacements:
16. Rob Herring
17. Cian Healy
18. Thomas Clarkson
19. James Ryan
20. Jack Conan
21. Ryan Baird
22. Conor Murray
23. Jack Crowley

Ireland Six Nations team v Wales

15. Jamie Osborne
14. Mack Hansen
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. James Lowe
10. Sam Prendergast
9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Andrew Porter
2. Dan Sheehan (captain)
3. Thomas Clarkson
4. Joe McCarthy
5. Tadhg Beirne
6. Peter O’Mahony
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Jack Conan

Replacements:
16. Gus McCarthy
17. Jack Boyle
18. Finlay Bealham
19. James Ryan
20. Cian Prendergast
21. Conor Murray
22. Jack Crowley
23. Bundee Aki

Ireland Six Nations team v Scotland

15. Hugo Keenan
14. Mack Hansen
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Bundee Aki
11. James Lowe
10. Sam Prendergast
9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Andrew Porter
2. Rónan Kelleher
3. Finlay Bealham
4. James Ryan
5. Tadhg Beirne
6. Peter O’Mahony
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris (captain)

Replacements:
16. Dan Sheehan
17. Cian Healy
18. Thomas Clarkson
19. Ryan Baird
20. Jack Conan
21. Conor Murray
22. Jack Crowley
23. Garry Ringrose

Ireland Six Nations team v England

15. Hugo Keenan
14. Mack Hansen
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Bundee Aki
11. James Lowe
10. Sam Prendergast
9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Andrew Porter
2. Rónan Kelleher
3. Finlay Bealham
4. James Ryan
5. Tadhg Beirne
6. Ryan Baird
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris (captain)

Replacements:
16. Dan Sheehan
17. Cian Healy
18. Thomas Clarkson
19. Iain Henderson
20. Jack Conan
21. Conor Murray
22. Jack Crowley
23. Robbie Henshaw

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Ireland Six Nations squad 2025

Ireland have called Gavin Coombes, John Hodnett, Diarmuid Mangan, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale and Nick Timoney into the squad for the match against Wales. Iain Henderson and Cormac Izuchukwu are unavailable

Forwards

Ryan Baird
Finlay Bealham
Tadhg Beirne
Jack Boyle
Thomas Clarkson
Jack Conan
Gavin Coombes
Max Deegan
Caelan Doris
Tadhg Furlong
Cian Healy
Rob Herring
John Hodnett
Rónan Kelleher
Diarmuid Mangan
Gus McCarthy
Joe McCarthy
Peter O’Mahony
Darragh Murray
Tom O’Toole
Andrew Porter
Cian Prendergast
James Ryan
Dan Sheehan
Nick Timoney
Josh van der Flier

Backs 

Bundee Aki
Caolin Blade
Jack Crowley
Ciaran Frawley
Jamison Gibson-Park
Mack Hansen
Robbie Henshaw
Hugo Keenan
James Lowe
Stuart McCloseky
Conor Murray
Calvin Nash
Jimmy O’Brien
Tommy O’Brien
Jamie Osborne
Sam Prendergast
Jacob Stockdale
Garry Ringrose

Development players

Hugh Cooney
Cathal Forde
James McNabney
Ben Murphy

Read more: How to watch the Six Nations 2025 from anywhere

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Ireland Six Nations squad: Line-ups from every match in 2024

Round 1: v France (Orange Velodrome, Marseille)

Starting XV: Hugo Keenan, Calvin Nash, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, James Lowe, Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Beirne, Peter O’Mahony (captain), Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris

Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Ciaran Frawley

Result: France 17-38 Ireland

Round 2: v Italy (Aviva Stadium)

Starting XV: Hugo Keenan; Calvin Nash, Robbie Henshaw, Stuart McCloskey, James Lowe;  Jack Crowley, Craig Casey, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Finlay Bealham, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Caelan Doris, Jack Conan

Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Jeremy Loughman, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson, Josh van der Flier, Jamison Gibson-Park, Harry Byrne,  Jordan Larmour

Result: Ireland 36-0 Italy

Round 3: v Wales (Aviva Stadium)

Starting XV: Ciaran Frawley; Calvin Nash, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Beirne, Peter O’Mahony,  Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris

Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Oli Jager, James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Stuart McCloskey

Result: Ireland 31-7 Wales

Round 4: v England (Twickenham)

Starting XV: Hugo Keenan; Calvin Nash, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan,
Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Beirne, Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris

Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Ryan Baird, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Ciaran Frawley

Result: England 23-22 Ireland

Round 5: v Scotland (Murrayfield)

Starting XV: Hugo Keenan; Calvin Nash, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Beirne, Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris

Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Ryan Baird, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Harry Byrne, Garry Ringrose

Result: Ireland 17-13 Scotland

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Ireland Six Nations squad 2024

Forwards

Ryan Baird (Leinster)
Finlay Bealham (Connacht)
Tadhg Beirne (Munster)
Jack Conan (Leinster)
Caelan Doris (Leinster)
Tadhg Furlong (Leinster)
Cian Healy (Leinster)
Iain Henderson (Ulster)
Ronan Kelleher (Leinster)
Jeremy Loughman (Munster)
Joe McCarthy (Leinster)
Peter O’Mahony (Munster)
Tom O’Toole (Ulster)
Andrew Porter (Leinster)
James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)
Dan Sheehan (Leinster)
Tom Stewart (Ulster)
Nick Timoney (Ulster)
Josh van der Flier (Leinster)

Backs

Bundee Aki (Connacht)
Harry Byrne (Leinster)
Craig Casey (Munster)
Jack Crowley (Munster)
Ciaran Frawley (Leinster)
Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)
Robbie Henshaw (Leinster)
Hugo Keenan (Leinster)
Jordan Larmour (Leinster)
James Lowe (Leinster)
Stuart McCloskey (Ulster)
Conor Murray (Munster)
Calvin Nash (Munster)
Garry Ringrose (Leinster)
Jacob Stockdale (Ulster)