SIX NATIONS RUGBY: Ireland do not gamble with Jonny Sexton for Italian test

Ireland have refused to gamble Johnny Sexton's RBS 6 Nations fitness on Saturday's tournament-defining encounter with Italy in Rome.
By The Newsroom
Published 9th Feb 2017, 14:09 BST
Updated 1st Mar 2017, 09:22 BST
Ireland's Paddy Jackson scores against Scotland and will start against ItalyIreland's Paddy Jackson scores against Scotland and will start against Italy
Ireland's Paddy Jackson scores against Scotland and will start against Italy

Lose at the Stadio Olimpico and Ireland would concede any lingering title chances, but boss Joe Schmidt has refused any temptation to field his linchpin fly-half.

Sexton missed the 27-22 loss in Scotland with calf trouble and was only ever handed an outside chance of facing Italy, so head coach Schmidt has again turned to Paddy Jackson to run his backline.

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Sexton has not played since Leinster’s 24-24 draw at Castres on January 20, but Ireland still expect the 31-year-old to be ready to face France in Dublin on February 25.

Craig Gilroy is named on the bench to face ItalyCraig Gilroy is named on the bench to face Italy
Craig Gilroy is named on the bench to face Italy

The fit-again Donnacha Ryan replaces Iain Henderson at lock after Ireland missed the Munster man’s wily tight work in Edinburgh.

Ryan and Cian Healy slot in to start in the only changes from the galling Scotland defeat, with Ireland’s Kiwi boss Schmidt challenging the bulk of those players to provide immediate atonement.

Connacht’s Ultan Dillane is preferred to Henderson as the lock cover on the bench, with Ulster wing Craig Gilroy also named among the replacements.

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IRELAND: R Kearney (Leinster); K Earls (Munster), G Ringrose, R Henshaw (both Leinster), S Zebo (Munster); P Jackson (Ulster), C Murray (Munster); C Healy (Leinster), R Best (Ulster, capt), T Furlong (Leinster), D Ryan (Munster), D Toner (Leinster), CJ Stander (Munster), S O’Brien, J Heaslip (both Leinster).

Replacements: N Scannell (Munster), J McGrath (Leinster), J Ryan (Munster), U Dillane (Connacht), J Van der Flier (Leinster), K Marmion (Connacht), I Keatley (Munster), C Gilroy (Ulster).

Related topics:IrelandMunsterRugbyItalySix NationsRomeUlster