Keatley at No.10 for Ireland in Italy

Ian Keatley will lead Ireland‘s attack in Rome after being named at fly-half to take on Italy in the Six Nations opener on Saturday.
The Munster playmaker gets the nod over Ian Madigan, who sits on the bench, with Jonny Sexton still recovering from a concussion.
Sean O’Brien carries on his return to action after last week’s outing for the Wolfhounds and will start at blindside on Saturday alongside Peter O’Mahony and Jordi Murphy as Jamie Heaslip is out with a shoulder injury.
Joe Schmidt could not make his mind up between Robbie Henshaw and Jared Payne for the No.13 jersey so he has named both in the midfield with Henshaw at inside centre and Payne outside him.
Paul O’Connell captain’s the side on his 97th cap for his country and is partnered in the second row by Devin Toner.
Ireland: R Kearney (Leinster); T Bowe (Ulster), J Payne (Ulster), R Henshaw (Connacht), S Zebo (Munster); I Keatley (Munster), C Murray (Munster); J McGrath (Leinster), R Best (Ulster), M Ross 9Leinster); D Toner (Leinster), P O’Connell (Munster, Capt.); P O’Mahony (Munster), S O’Brien (Leinster), J Murphy (Leinster).
Replacements: S Cronin (Leinster), J Cronin (Munster), M Moore (Leinster), I Henderson (Ulster), T O’Donnell (Munster), I Boss (Leinster), I Madigan (Leinster), F Jones (Munster).