Milestone Ireland appearance for Henshaw - Connacht also name team

Robbie Henshaw will earn his 50th cap for Ireland in this Saturday's Six Nations rugby clash against Italy at the Stadio Olimpico, Rome.

Henshaw has been one of Ireland's most impressive performers in this year's Six Nations thus far, and the Athlone man will again partner Garry Ringrose in the centre as Ireland bid for their first win of the campaign.

Overall, there are seven changes to the Ireland side that started the defeat against France in the second round. Both out-half Johnny Sexton, who captains the team, and lock forward James Ryan return to Ireland's starting XV.

The replacements bench includes two uncapped players, Ryan Baird and Craig Casey.

Meanwhile, Bundee Aki has been released from Ireland duty to start for Connacht in Friday evening’s Guinness PRO14 clash away to Benetton.

Aki started the bonus point win over Cardiff Blues and will again play tomorrow in a boost to Andy Friend’s side, who are look to make it three wins on the bounce in the PRO14.

Jack Carty is among the Connacht replacements, as is Brideswell native Niall Murray.

Oisin Dowling has also been handed his first start for the province, having featured off the bench in the last two games.

Connacht head coach Andy Friend has stressed the importance of treating each game like a cup final during this final run-in.

“I said at the start of this block of games that we realistically need five wins from five to have a chance of finishing top of the Conference, so this game is just as important as what’s gone before," said Friend.

"Italy is always a tough place to get a win and we’ve seen from their last few performances that they’re getting closer to that first victory this season, so we have to be at our best to make sure that doesn’t come against us.”

Ireland squad v Italy (Guinness 6 Nations Championship, February 27, kick-off 2.15pm)

15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD)

14. Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary’s College)

13. Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD)

12. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers)

11. James Lowe (Leinster)

10. Jonathan Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) captain

9. Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster)

1. Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians)

2. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne)

3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf)

4. Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy)

5. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD)

6. Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne)

7. Will Connors (Leinster/UCD)

8. CJ Stander (Munster/Shannon) 48

Replacements

16. Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch)

17. Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf)

18. Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD)

19. Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University)

20. Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere)

21. Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon)

22. Billy Burns (Ulster)

23. Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster)

Connacht squad v Benetton (Guinness PRO14, February 26, Stadio Monigo, kick-off 5.30pm)

15. Tiernan O’Halloran

14. Peter Sullivan

13. Tom Daly

12. Bundee Aki

11. Alex Wootton

10. Conor Fitzgerald

9. Kieran Marmion

1. Paddy McAllister

2. Shane Delahunt

3. Finlay Bealham

4. Oisin Dowling

5. Gavin Thornbury

6. Eoghan Masterson

7. Jarrad Butler (captain)

8. Paul Boyle

Replacements

16. Jonny Murphy

17. Denis Buckley

18. Dominic Robertson-McCoy

19. Niall Murray

20. Sean Masterson

21. Caolin Blade

22. Jack Carty

23. John Porch