Six Nations: Michael Lowry to make Ireland debut against Italy in Six Nations

Michael Lowry will make his Ireland debut at full-back against Italy in Dublin.

Johnny Sexton is on the bench, but Joey Carbery stays at fly-half.

With James Ryan out with an adductor injury, Peter O'Mahony has been named the captain of the side.

James Lowe is back from a groin injury to start on the left wing, whileRobbie Henshaw is back in the middle.

Dan Sheehan will be the new hooker for Ireland after Ronan Kelleher suffered a tournament-ending shoulder injury.

One of the three changes to the Irish pack is for the first time a senior international start for the Leinster forward.

Jack Conan drops onto the bench as Caelan Doris moves to number eight.

Rob Herring is in line to make his first appearance of the tournament after missing out on a place in the matchday 23 for Ireland.

Ireland: Henshaw, Ringrose, Henshaw, Lowe, Carbery, Porter, Sheehan, Furlong, Beirne, Baird, O'Mahony, van der Flier.

The replacements were Herring, Kilcoyne, Bealham, Treadwell, Conan, andCasey.

Carbery's Paris display enough to hold off Sexton

Carbery retains the number 10 jersey on the back of an assured performance delivered in the absence of Sexton.

He missed the Italy game due to a injury but was back in action this week and admitted he faced a battle to get the starting spot back.

Ireland will start a match without Hugo Keenan for the first time since February 2020 because of the back three selection.

During the first weekend of the Six Nations, he was released from the Ireland squad for the game, but he still produced a try-scoring display.

He will make his Six Nations bow three weeks after his school-mate, who won his second cap in the opening win against Wales.

Andrew Conway missed the first two rounds due to injury and was replaced by Lowe.

British and Irish Lion Henshaw is making his first start of the tournament as he hopes to put the injuries that have restricted him to just five games for club and country behind him.

Italy have lost their last 34 consecutive games in the tournament and have made three changes to their starting XV.

Italy has: Bruno, Brex, Marin, Ioane, Varney, Fischetti, Lucchesi, Ceccarelli, Cannone, Ruzza, Pettinelli and Lamaro.

Replacements include Faiva, Sisi, Zuliani, Fusco, and Zanon.

Pierre Bruno will make his Six Nations debut on the right wing, while Leonardo Marin will make his championship debut at blindside flanker.

Benetton pair Marco Zanon and Braam Steyn are on the bench, with Bordeaux wing Federico Mori dropping out of the matchday squad.

Italy began the competition with a loss to France in Paris, before being beaten by Eddie Jones' side in Rome.