This team announcement was a massive statement from Andy Farrell.

The Ireland head coach was not best pleased by what he saw in Paris last week, and that is reflected in this much-changed selection to face the in-form Italians on Saturday afternoon.

Farrell has made a whopping six changes, while shaking up his bench, in the wake of that sobering 36-14 hammering at the hands of the French.

It’s a bold move. As Farrell stated in the hours after his side’s loss in Stade de France, Italy are no longer the Italy of old. They are not championship cannon fodder anymore.

Ireland suffered a sobering 36-14 hammering at the hands of the French. 

Gonzalo Quesada’s ever-improving outfit will arrive in Dublin in the back of an impressive win over Scotland in Rome. The visitors will look back at the corresponding fixture against Ireland at Stadio Olimpico 12 months ago and take a lot of confidence. Ireland were lucky to get out of the Eternal City with a five-point win in a nervy, final-round encounter.

Again, this is a big statement from Farrell. Italy are no mugs these days. This will be a proper Test match and a wounded Ireland will be getting a proper contest on their home turf.

Part of this selection was potentially motivated by the poor display in Paris. Part of it could be about managing resources, in an already injury-depleted squad, ahead of that third-round clash with England in Twickenham next week. Part of is undoubtedly geared towards the 2027 World Cup.

A wounded Ireland will be getting a proper contest from Italy on their home turf

Why else would Farrell hand Cormac Izuchukwu a Six Nations debut and just his fourth international cap on the blindside flank? Robert Baloucoune has been rewarded for some strong provincial form with a fifth Ireland cap and his first in four years.

It will be Craig Casey’s 26th international appearance, but just his 10th start. Farrell has explored the outer reaches of the loosehead depth chart with Jeremy Loughman and Michael Milne getting exposed to the top level last time out. He is still curious about other options, with Tom O’Toole – who has primarily packed down at tighthead for Ulster – selected as loosehead cover on the bench.

Then, there’s the selection of Edwin Edogbo, one of the most exciting prospects in the game at the moment. The Munster lock, who tips the scales at around the 127kg mark, offers serious physical presence.

The 23-year-old’s workload has been managed carefully by his province this season. The Cobh native would perhaps be a bit further down this road if not for back-to-back achilles tendon ruptures which kept him on the sidelines for two years.

Edwin Edogbo is one of the most exciting prospects in the game at the moment

When Edogbo has been on the pitch for Munster this term, he has made a serious impact. The Irish system doesn’t produce second rows with this profile and skillset too often.

Edogbo is part of a stacked bench which features Ronan Kelleher, the fit-again Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne, Nick Timoney, Jamison Gibson-Park and Jack Crowley.

If the hosts get into a bit of bother, there is a serious cast of replacements which can turn things around in the third quarter.

It’s an exciting team across the board. Inexperienced, but loaded with potential. Only two players in the starting pack (James Ryan and Caelan Doris) have more than 50 caps. Among the outside backs, only one can make a similar claim, and that is Garry Ringrose.

Josh van der Flier has never strikes you as a complacent character but the extra competition in his position is no harm

Farrell has also shown his ruthless side, with Tommy O’Brien, Jacob Stockdale, Milne, Cian Prendergast and Josh van der Flier cut entirely from the matchday 23.

Again, it’s a positive development. It will surely light a fire under all those mentioned above. Van der Flier knows all about Farrell when it comes to tough selection decisions. After all, the Leinster openside didn’t see a minute of action for the British and Irish Lions in the Test series against the Wallabies last summer.

The 2022 World Player of the Year will have noted Timoney’s impressive cameo against the French and the presence of Doris in the No7 jersey this week. Van der Flier has never strikes you as a complacent character but the extra competition in his position is no harm. Farrell will be watching his reaction with interest in the coming weeks.

Ulster man Nick Timoney made an impressive try-scoring cameo against France 

Saturday is a big opportunity for some fringe players to lay down a marker ahead of that daunting trip to London.

Farrell has been a big admirer of Izuchukwu for quite some time. After something of a nomadic career, taking in stints with amateur Scottish outfit Kelso and the Ireland Sevens programme, this talented forward found a home with Ulster.

He has thrived under Richie Murphy. The Offaly native has been a familiar face in senior training camps and has been prominent on Emerging Ireland tours in recent years.

The 26-year-old is one of the exciting ‘hybrid’ forwards in the Irish game right now, along with the likes of Ryan Baird and Tom Ahern. Pacy, athletic blindside flankers/locks who can do a bit of everything on the pitch. 

Izuchukwu is arguably the most promising athlete of that trio. He can offer speed, explosive power and an aerial threat in the wide channels. Farrell will want to see plenty of grit in the tight exchanges, too. If Izuchukwu can hit his markers at the set-piece, he could be set for a long stint in this team.

It’s also a big opportunity for Baloucoune. Another former Sevens product, the Enniskillen-born wing has genuine pace. He’s the kind of player who gets fans out of their seats when he gets the ball in space. 

Robert Baloucoune is a player who gets fans out of their seats when he gets the ball in space

Farrell has been tracking his progress for quite some time. Indeed, he backed Baloucoune to start an autumn international against the Springboks in 2022. Injuries, dips in form and the emergence of some talented wings have hampered his progress at Ulster. Baloucoune can lay down a marker here, especially if he manages to make an impression in the aerial contests.

Casey has been backed to stake his claim for the scrum-half berth as well. Gibson-Park has lorded it as Farrell’s first choice for the best part of five years, but are his powers on the wane? Casey can capitalise. On Farrell’s watch, Gibson-Park went from impact sub to a market leader and a Test Lion. He won’t enjoy this demotion. Again, it’s a win-win for Farrell.

The boss is under pressure to deliver a response and a result, but he deserves a lot of credit for this progressive, gutsy selection.