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14th February 2023
12:06am GMT

"Bundee Aki needs minutes so he could come in," Jason Hennessy suggested. "Bundee is a proven Lion, too, so it's not like Ireland are just throwing a lad in for a run. It's Bundee bloody Aki. Jimmy O'Brien is another lad in great form that could be involved."Asked if Jack Crowley could possibly get some minutes off the replacements bench, in Rome, Lindsay Peat agreed it would be a great experience with Johnny Sexton possibly running water or along the sideline for moral and strategic support. "I think Ross Byrne needs to start," said Peat, "then definitely get Jack Crowley in there for a bit." To fill in the second row spot, Peat and Greg O'Shea mulled between Iain Henderson and Ryan Baird, with Hennessy acting as the deciding vote and siding with the versatile Leinster forward over the Ulster captain. Jack Conan could well freshen up the back row, while both Joe McCarthy and Gavin Coombes got mentions.
15. Hugo Keenan 14. Mack Hansen 13. Garry Ringrose 12. Bundee Aki 11. James Lowe 10. Ross Byrne 9. Craig Casey 1. Andrew Porter 2. Rónan Kelleher 3. Finlay Bealham 4. Ryan Baird 5. James Ryan 6. Caelan Doris 7. Josh van der Flier 8. Jack Conan Replacements: Rob Herring, Dave Kilcoyne, Tom O'Toole, Iain Henderson, Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray, Jack Crowley, Jimmy O'Brien.Related articles:
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