As well as cutting six players from the matchday squad that lost to France for tomorrow's game against Italy, Andy Farrell is hoping the injection of some old-school nous will be the boost his team needs.
Flanker Josh van der Flier is the highest-profile casualty from the defeat in Paris, with the 2022 World Rugby player of the year dropping off the panel.
The same goes for three other starters against Les Bleus, with back row Cian Prendergast and wingers Tommy O'Brien and Jacob Stockdale kicking their heels this weekend.
British and Irish Lions stars Jamison Gibson-Park and Tadhg Beirne must be content with places on the bench, while captain Caelan Doris moves to the openside with Jack Conan starting at 8.
He's hoping these relatively radical calls serves as the kick in the backside he feels is required.
And while it was more than likely planned in advance, Farrell also invited Irish legends Keith Earls and Cian Healy into camp this week hoping that some of their knowledge and experience rubs off on his squad, who he claimed lacked intent in the round-one loss.
"I think everyone realises that [no one is untouchable] anyway, we all know what Josh can and will bring," said Farrell when speaking to reporters after naming his team.
"He doesn't get the opportunity this week, but next week, we'll see about that.
"There's a door open for a different back row, a different second-row partnership.
"[Tadhg] Furlong coming back in, Tom O'Toole, there's change all over there.
"Our captain playing a different role, he's done that very well before for us. Jack Conan 100% deserves a start, I thought he and James Ryan were excellent last week.
"They showed the way, showed the character that's needed.
"So, there's always reasons for it.
"It's not rotation, everything gets thrown into the mix but this is the side to play against a very good Italian side."
Earls and Healy are among Ireland’s most decorated players. The Munster winger retired after the 2023 World Cup with over 100 caps and a Grand Slam from 2018 to his name.
Prop forward Healy hung up his boots in 2024 with an incredible 137 caps and five Six Nations titles, including two Grand Slams.
With Johnny Sexton among the coaching staff, there are plenty of brains to pick as the team seeks a lift from a discouraging run of losses to peer nations.
"It was brilliant having Earlsy in," Farrell beamed.
"James Lowe told a lovely story of how he learned from Earlsy, how professional he was, and James Lowe thought he was until he learned how professional Earlsy was.
"That was a nice story for Earlsy to hear back.
"Earlsy loved it as well, he's two days in with us and you see the wingers just quietly going up to him and saying 'what would you do here’ and ‘what would you do there?’
"Those types of relationships are vital for everyone going forward.
"Earlsy's the type of player that's been through it all with this type of career.
"Cian Healy is in the hotel there as we speak now, so it's important that you keep learning from the experience that these lads have."
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has made six changes to the team to face Italy in round two of the #SixNations #RTERugby #RTESport pic.twitter.com/ULP8A1vxqO
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 12, 2026
Farrell was subsequently asked about the team’s place in the pecking order and how he saw the overall picture as they build up to next year’s World Cup.
"My attention is always on the here and now because it matters massively, but I’ve said this before, where the squad is at is always completely different for every generation really," Farrell, who said that none of injured trio Mack Hansen, Hugo Keenan or Ryan Baird will be back before the end of the championship, said.
"We just happen to have lost a lot of experience and people are coming in, we‘ve a lot of new caps, certainly a lot of players under 10 caps.
"They have to go through this.
"They have to go through Paris on a Thursday night for us to grow and learn and, along with the players that we’ve not got, that are injured, but also the potential of the players that we’re trying to give this experience to.
"I’m excited about that down the track and that track is not too far away.
"You always have to go through a little bit of pain to get to that point. We’ve always done that with every generation."
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