Schmidt: Sexton was starting in Rome regardless of Carbery fitness

Joe Schmidt has revealed that Jonathan Sexton would have started Sunday's Six Nations game against Italy in Rome even if Joey Carbery hadn't been ruled out with a hamstring injury suffered in training this week.

All told, Schmidt has gone with the same backline as started against Scotland two weeks ago. That means another start for Sexton who needs the minutes after an injury-interrupted start to 2019. With Carbery unavailable, Jack Carty is poised for a debut off the bench.