Dublin (AFP) - Joey Carbery gets his second successive Six Nations start for Ireland in the home game against Italy on Sunday despite talismanic fly-half and captain Johnny Sexton being fully fit after a hamstring problem.
Carbery was widely praised for his performance in what was his first ever Six Nations start -- though it was his 29th Test -- in the 30-24 defeat by France in Paris a fortnight ago.
Sexton missed the game due to the hamstring strain, but head coach Andy Farrell may see this as an ideal opportunity against pointless Italy to give Carbery another start with the reassuring presence of 102-times capped Sexton on the bench.
"Back to back Test matches is a great experience and especially for someone playing in a pivotal position like fly-half," said head coach Andy Farrell at his press conference later on Friday.
"He handled the occasion well in Paris and he learned a lot from that game.
"Joey would admit he needed to put a few things right and add to his experience at this level.
"The person who agrees with that is Johnny as he is the captain."
Elsewhere, Farrell has made several changes to the starting line-up which lost in Paris and which also handsomely defeated champions Wales in their opening clash.
Michael Lowry gets his first cap at full-back as Hugo Keenan who had been an ever-present, starting 17 times since making his debut in 2020, drops out of the matchday 23.
"He (Lowry) deserves it," said Farrell."He came into the camp last summer as a stand-in originally.
"He performed very well then and since and you can see the experience has whetted his appetite.He is ready."
Keenan's Leinster team-mate New Zealand-born wing James Lowe appears for the first time this tournament after recovering from injury.
"James adds a different dimension to how we play," he said.
"He came back on Monday and hit the ground running hopefully it transfers into our performance."
Mack Hansen, who has made a huge impact since winning his first cap in Ireland's opening day thrashing of Wales, is on the other wing.
Robbie Henshaw comes into the starting XV -- he came on as a replacement against France -- and will partner Leinster team-mate Garry Ringrose in the centres.
Veteran flanker Peter O'Mahony captains the side with Sexton on the bench and with James Ryan, who usually steps in when Sexton is unavailable out with an adductor problem.
The Irish will be hot favourites to reignite their title hopes after a narrow loss against the French.They have won nine of their last 10 Tests while the Italians are on a run of 34 Six Nations defeats.
Farrell, though, likes what he has seen from the Kieran Crowley coached Italy.
"They are trying to play a different game and they have ball players who love to throw the ball around," said Farrell.
"They must be excited where they are going.
"We must make sure our ducks are in a row and make sure we get the type of start we want.
"We must make sure we are accurate and disciplined."
Team (15-1)
Michael Lowry; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Joey Carbery, Jamison Gibson Park; Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Peter O'Mahony (capt); Ryan Baird, Tadhg Beirne; Tadhg Furlong, Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter
Replacements:
Rob Herring, Dave Kilcoyne, Finlay Bealham, Kieran Treadwell, Jack Conan, Craig Casey, Johnny Sexton, James Hume
Coach: Andy Farrell (ENG)
