- Munster have signed the utility back Will Harrison
- Sad passing of Shannon RFC clubman Vincent McMahon
- Munster to take on La Rochelle on August 28th
- List of Munster Rugby players leaving the Province
- Pool Draws for the 2026/2027 EPCR cup competitions
- BKT United Rugby Championship Final Match Officials
- It’s the match of the BKT URC defining rivalry
- Jared Payne is appointed Assistant Coach with Munster
- Michael Foy signs a new contract with Munster Rugby
- Coach Alex Codling will depart Munster for France
- Max Clein joins the senior squad with Munster
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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