London (AFP) - Ireland fly-half Jack Crowley will make his first start of this Six Nations in the team’s tournament finale away to Italy on Saturday after ousting Sam Prendergast from the No 10 shirt.

The 25-year-old Munster stand-off played every minute of Ireland’s title-winning campaign in 2024 but Leinster out-half Prendergast, 22, has started the past six Test matches.

Last weekend’s crushing 42-27 loss at home to France scuppered Ireland’s hopes of a Grand Slam and left the reigning champions’ title chances hanging by a thread.

But Ireland will still be firm favourites to beat an Italy side who have conceded 73 and 47 points in third and fourth-round defeats by France and England respectively.

Fit again wings James Lowe and Mack Hansen return to the team announced Thursday by interim head coach Simon Easterby while Garry Ringrose, back from suspension, is preferred to Bundee Aki in midfield.

Up front, James Ryan comes in for Joe McCarthy at lock and Jack Conan takes Peter O’Mahony’s place at blindside flanker.

Tighthead prop Tadhg Furlong is poised for his first Test action since last year’s tour of South Africa after being named among the replacements following hamstring and calf problems.

O’Mahony and fellow retiring Ireland cap centurion Conor Murray could feature in a Test for the final time after they too were included on the bench.

But prop Cian Healy – Ireland’s most-capped player with 137 appearances – looks to have already played his last international after being left out of the matchday 23, with Jack Boyle providing loosehead cover for Andrew Porter.

McCarthy, O’Mahony, Prendergast and Aki drop to a bench which also includes hooker Gus McCarthy.

Ireland are now third, two points behind leaders France, with their bid for what would be an unprecedented third successive Six Nations title now out of their own hands.

In order to retain the title, Ireland must win in Rome and then hope second-placed England and table-toppers France stumble against Wales and Scotland respectively later on in the championship’s concluding ‘Super Saturday’.

“We have freshened things up a little this week in selection and it’s a great boost to welcome back some players from injury, alongside others who have patiently waited in the wings for their chance to start,” said Easterby after naming his side on Thursday.

Easterby, deputising as Ireland boss while Andy Farrell is seconded to the British and Irish Lions for an upcoming three-Test tour of Australia, added: “We’ve shown our resilience in recent years and I have no reason to believe that the game in Rome this weekend will be any different.”

As for the lingering possibility of retaining the Six Nations title, former Ireland flanker Easterby said: “A lot has been made about the various permutations at play, and it certainly makes for a dramatic day of international rugby.

“Our primary focus is on our performance and we are determined to finish our campaign on a positive note.”

Ireland (15-1)

Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Caelan Doris (capt), Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan; Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan; Finlay Bealham, Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter

Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Jack Boyle, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Sam Prendergast, Bundee Aki

Coach: Simon Easterby (IRL)