Doris captains Ireland for first time in Six Nations visit of Italy

Caelan Doris, seen by many as a future Ireland captain, gets a chance to prove credentials as he will skipper the Irish in their Six Nations match against Italy on Sunday.

The 25-year-old flanker, who has been a pivotal member of the team since Andy Farrell gave him his debut in 2020, gets his chance due to permanent captain Peter O'Mahony being unable to train this week owing to a calf injury.

"Peter has got a bit of a calf injury that shouldn't take too long, as does Tadhg Furlong," Farrell told reporters on Friday.

"When you lose a couple of leaders, do you replace them with a leader or somebody that deserves a chance etc?.

Captain Caelan! ☘️#TeamOfUs pic.twitter.com/GFs0m7k6eA — Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) February 9, 2024

"Iain Henderson coming onto the bench will help Caelan, I've no doubt, in making sure the changing room feels the way it should be with Pete (O'Mahony) and Tadhg (Furlong) not being there."

Farrell added of Doris:"He is a very calm, calculated type of individual that will have that reassurance on the rest of the group."

Farrell has made six changes to the starting XV that dismantled the French for a record 38-17 away win in France.

Our team to face Italy at Aviva Stadium, captained by Caelan Doris! 👊#TeamOfUs — Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) February 9, 2024

He has opted to either rest players or give those with minor niggles more time to recover ahead of the potentially tougher home game with Wales in a fortnight.

"It's about giving people another chance obviously," said Farrell.

"The lads that took the field last week, to build on that, but also keeping competition in the right places and like I always say, selection takes all sorts."

'CONTINUE TO RUMBLE'

Ireland are bidding to make it two wins from two and remain on track to become the first team to win successive Grand Slams in the history of the Six Nations.

Farrell has taken the opportunity to give Craig Casey a start at scrum-half alongside his Munster teammate Jack Crowley, who impressed in the defeat of the French in Marseille.

First choice scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park is on the bench.

Not one Ulster player featured in the matchday 23 last Friday but this time Farrell has brought in Stuart McCloskey in the centres – Bundee Aki has a knee issue – while Henderson awaits his chance on the bench.

"Bundee has got a rumbling knee that we can continue with this week, but it's going to continue to rumble as well," said Farrell.

"Stuart McCloskey has been going well in training so he deserves a chance and hopefully Bundee will get fit and well in the meantime," added the 48-year-old Englishman.

The absence of Tadhg Beirne, who has barely had a break since the Irish began their Rugby World Cup campaign last September, gives James Ryan a start in the second row.

For Ryan it is a welcome break as, for so long seen as Johnny Sexton's successor as skipper, his star has waned due to fitness and form problems.

He will bed down in the second row with Joe McCarthy, who was man of the match against France.

Farrell's wealth of choice in the back row permits him to put 2022 world player of the year Josh van der Flier on the bench and start with British and Irish Lion Jack Conan and the highly-rated Ryan Baird alongside Doris.

Furlong is replaced at prop by Finlay Bealham, who started in three of Ireland's five Six Nations matches last year.

The Irish will be odds on favourites to win against Italy, who pushed them hard last year, only losing 30-24.

The Italians also gave England a run for their money in their 27-24 opening defeat last Saturday in Rome but will know they have to raise their level even higher against a team they have beaten just once in the Six Nations.

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

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

Coach: Andy Farrell (ENG)