Six Nations 2024: Stuart McCloskey starts as Caelan Doris captains Ireland against Italy

Caelan Doris will captain Ireland for the first time in what will be his 38th cap

Ulster centre Stuart McCloskey has been recalled to the Ireland team as one of six changes for Sunday's Six Nations match against Italy.

McCloskey did not make the matchday squad for last week's win in France but returns to partner Robbie Henshaw.

Back row Caelan Doris will captain Ireland for the first time with Peter O'Mahony (calf) ruled out.

Craig Casey replaces Jamison Gibson-Park at scrum-half, with Jack Crowley retained at fly-half.

There are four changes in the Irish pack as Finlay Bealham, James Ryan, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan return.

Conan's inclusion in the line-up means Doris shifts from number eight to openside flanker.

With Crowley keeping his place at out-half, his Munster team-mate Calvin Nash is also retained after a try-scoring debut in the bonus-point win over France.

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Nash is part of an unchanged back three with Hugo Keenan and James Lowe.

Leinster's Joe McCarthy, another impressive Six Nations debutant last week, will be partnered in the second row by Ryan with Tadhg Beirne rested

In addition to captain O'Mahony and Tadhg Furlong (calf), neither of whom have trained this week, Garry Ringrose again misses out after being ruled out of the France game with a shoulder injury.

Bundee Aki, who also started in France, is also missing from the 23.

Ulster's Tom O'Toole and Iain Henderson are called up as forwards replacements, with Harry Byrne in line to earn his third cap as the out-half replacement.

Jordan Larmour is also set to earn his first cap since 2021 with Farrell reverting to a 5-3 split of forwards and backs on the bench having opted for 6-2 against France.

Italy, whose sole Six Nations win against Ireland came in 2013, make four changes from their defeat by England, with Ange Capuozzo, Stephen Varney, Alessandro Izekor and Federico Ruzza recalled.

Ireland: Keenan; Nash, Henshaw, McCloskey, Lowe; Crowley, Casey; Porter, Sheehan, Bealham, McCarthy, Ryan, Baird, Doris, Conan.

Replacements: Kelleher, Loughman, O'Toole, Henderson, Van der Flier, Gibson-Park, Byrne, Larmour.

Italy: Capuozzo; Pani, Brex, Menoncello, Ioane; P Garbisi, Varney; Fischetti, Lucchesi, Ceccarelli, N Cannone, Ruzza, Izekor, Zuliani, Lamaro (capt).

Replacements: Nicotera, Spagnolo, Zilocchi, Zambonin, Vintcent, Page-Relo, Allan, Mori.

Referee: Luke Pearce (Eng)

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