34 men named but that will be paired down to 23 for the weekend trip to Rome.
Let's start with the bad news - Will Addison, Garry Ringrose and Rhys Ruddock will not be involved against Italy.
Now, for the good stuff...
Chris Farrell has been reviewed by the Ireland medical team and was fit to train with the 34-man Ireland squad today. A release from the IRFU reads:
'Garry Ringrose and Rhys Ruddock will continue their respective hamstring rehab at Leinster this week.
'Will Addison has some lower back stiffness that is being managed at Ulster this week. Iain Henderson and Tadhg Beirne, who were named in the initial Six Nations squad, have joined the group at Carton House this week.'
There is no Dan Leavy or Kieran Marmion in the squad either but Robbie Henshaw is included and there is a surprise call-up for Leinster winger Adam Byrne.
IRELAND SQUAD
Forwards (18)
Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 115 caps (c)
Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster) 4 caps
Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 12 caps
Sean Cronin (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 67 caps
Ultan Dillane (Corinthians/Connacht) 12 caps
Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 30 caps
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 86 caps
Iain Henderson (Queens University/Ulster) 42 caps
Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster) 26 caps
Jack McGrath (St Marys College/Leinster) 53 caps
Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Ulster) 26 caps
Sean O’Brien (UCD/Leinster) 54 caps
Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 54 caps (vc)
Quinn Roux (Galwegians/Connacht) 10 caps
James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) 15 caps
John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster) 16 caps
Niall Scannell (Dolphin/Munster) 11 caps
Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster) 15 caps
Backs (16)
Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht) 14 caps
Caolin Blade (Galwegians/Connacht) 0 caps
Adam Byrne (UCD/Leinster) 1 cap
Joey Carbery (Clontarf/Munster) 18 caps
Jack Carty (Buccaneers/Connacht) 0 caps
Andrew Conway (Garryowen/Munster) 10 caps
John Cooney (Terenure College/Ulster) 6 caps
Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 74 caps
Chris Farrell (Young Munster/Munster) 4 caps
Tom Farrell (Coolmine/Connacht) 0 caps
Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster) 37 caps
Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster/) 88 caps
Jordan Larmour (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 11 caps
Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 69 caps
Jonathan Sexton (St Marys College/Leinster) 80 caps (vc)
Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster) 16 caps
Meanwhile, Italy have to go into battle without their inspirational captain Sergio Parisse, who misses out due to concussion.
https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/1097839801536053248
Ireland face off against Conor O'Shea's Italy at Stadio Olimpico on Sunday afternoon. Since losing to the Azzurri in 2013 - Declan Kidney's final game as Ireland coach - the men in green have beating them seven times.
Their closest encounter was at the 2015 World Cup, a 16-9 win, but Ireland have otherwise dealt with Italy handily. On four occasions, in recent years, they have scored eight or more tries.
CATCH THE HOUSE OF RUGBY IRELAND VS. ITALY PREVIEW HERE
https://youtu.be/t9AuffOvALA
