Farrell prefers Prendergast for Crowley for Italy game
- Updated: 13/02/2026
THERE have been some significant “losers” in the Ireland selection to play Italy, with Tommy O’Brien, Jacob Stockdale and even Josh van der Flier on the 23 missing out. Jack Crowley sits on the bench again with Sam Prendergast getting the nod from the coach to start.
Listing the changes from the French game Farrell said: “Jack Conan 100 per cent deserves a start, I thought he and James Ryan were excellent last week. They showed the way, showed the character that’s needed. So there’s always reasons for it.
“It’s not rotation. Everything gets thrown into the mix. But this is the side to play against a very good Italian side.”
Ireland (v Italy): 15 Jamie Osborne; 14 Robert Baloucoune, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 James Lowe; 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Craig Casey; 1 Jeremy Loughman, 2 Dan Sheehan, 3 Thomas Clarkson; 4 Joe McCarthy, 5 James Ryan; 6 Cormac Izuchukwu, 7 Caelan Doris (captain), 8 Jack Conan.
Replacements: 16 Rónan Kelleher, 17 Tom O’Toole, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Edwin Edogbo, 20 Tadhg Beirne, 21 Nick Timoney, 22 Jamison Gibson-Park, 23 Jack Crowley.
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