Carbery to start against Italy with Sexton on the bench

Michael Lowry and Dan Sheehan have also been handed their first starts by Andy Farrell

Joey Carbery 

Peter O’Mahony will captain a much-changed Ireland side to face Italy on Sunday but Joey Carbery continues at fly-half in this third-round Guinness Six Nations clash at Aviva Stadium.

Andy Farrell has handed a start to uncapped Ulster full-back Michael Lowry as Hugo Keenan is rested after 18 consecutive Test appearances since his own debut in 2020 with the head coach breaking from type and making five further changes to the starting line-up which lost in France last time out and two more positional switches.