Caelen Doris captains new look Ireland for Six Nations clash with Italy

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has named backrow Caelen Doris as captain for his team’s upcoming Guinness Six Nations match with Italy at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday.

The 25-year-old was believed to be in the running for the Captain’s role ahead of the Championship before veteran Peter O’Mahony accepted the position.

Doris will become the 110th man to captain Ireland and will be joined in the backrow by clubmates Ryan Baird and Jack Conan.

In the second row, breakthrough star Joe McCarthy is joined by the returning James Ryan, with Ulster’s Iain Henderson offering cover on the bench.

Completing the changes to the pack, Connacht tighthead Finlay Bealham partners Dan Sheehan and Andrew Porter in the front row.

Across the backline, Farrell has opted for consistency in the back three as James Lowe and Calvin Nash start on the wings with Hugo Keenan once again starting at fullback.

At scrumhalf Craig Casey starts alongside Munster teammate Jack Crowley whilst Ulster’s Stuart McCloskey replaces Bundee Aki at inside centre.

In full the Irish team is as follows:

15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(37)
14. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster) (2)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(68)
12. Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster)(15)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(27)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(10)
9. Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster)(13)

1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(60)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(22)
3. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(37)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(6)
5. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)(60)
6. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(16)
7. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(37)(captain)
8. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(42)

Replacements:

16. Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(27)
17. Jeremy Loughman (Garryowen/Munster)(4)
18. Tom O’Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster)(12)
19. Iain Henderson (Academy/Ulster)(79)
20. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(58)
21. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(31)
22. Harry Byrne (UCD/Leinster)(2)
23. Jordan Larmour (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(30)