Ireland adds Kiwi pace for Azzurri arrival

TEAM UPDATE: Leinster wing James Lowe has been added to the Ireland squad after his remarkable performance for the province at the weekend.

The New Zealand-born wing scored a 65 metre try as the men in blue brushed past the Ospreys 27 – 7 in their United Rugby Championship match in the RDS last Saturday.

Having missed the Guinness Six Nations’ opening two rounds through injury, Lowe’s second-half turn was enough to see him drafted straight back into the mix ahead of Ireland’s Round 3 game with Italy.

He is joined by fellow Leinsterman, Jimmy O’Brien, as Andy Farrell’s squad assembles this evening at Carton House, having last week completed a two-day camp at the IRFU High-Performance Centre.

An IRFU statement reads: “The 14 players who were released to play with their provinces return to the squad for the Italy match week – Jack Carty, Dave Heffernan (Connacht), Ryan Baird, Cian Healy, Jordan Larmour (Leinster), Craig Casey, Gavin Coombes, Dave Kilcoyne (Munster) and Robert Baloucoune, James Hume, Michael Lowry, Tom O’Toole, Nick Timoney, Kieran Treadwell (Ulster).

“Leinster duo James Lowe and Jimmy O’Brien have also been added to the squad for the Italy match week.”

IRELAND SQUAD

BACKS: Bundee Aki, Robert Baloucoune, Joey Carbery, Jack Carty, Craig Casey, Andrew Conway, Jamison Gibson, Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, James Hume, Hugo Keenan, Jordan Larmour, James Lowe, Michael Lowry, Conor Murray, Jimmy O’Brien, Garry Ringrose, Johnny Sexton.

FORWARDS: Ryan Baird, Finlay Bealham, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Gavin Coombes, Caelan Doris, Tadhg Furlong, Cian Healy, Dave Heffernan, Iain Henderson, Rob Herring, Dave Kilcoyne, Peter O’Mahony, Tom O’Toole, Andrew Porter, James Ryan, Dan Sheehan, Nick Timoney, Kieran Treadwell, Josh van der Flier.

By Ian Cameron, RugbyPass