Andy Farrell has laid down the gauntlet to his team and is expecting a big response against Italy after a harrowing loss in France.
The head coach cited a lack of intent following the 36-14 reverse in Paris as the side opened their Six Nations campaign on a down.
Farrell, who led the team to championship titles in 2023 and 2024, has dropped Josh van der Flier, Cian Prendergast, Tommy O'Brien and Jacob Stockdale from the matchday 23 with Ulster pair Cormac Izuchukwu and Rob Baloucoune, making their first Six Nations appearances, and James Lowe returning to the side.
Jack Conan comes in at 8 with captain Caelan Doris moving to openside.
Additionally, Tadhg Beirne and Jamison Gibson-Park, mainstays of the team over the last number of years, will start on the bench with James Ryan and Craig Casey taking their places at lock and scrum-half, respectively.
There'll be an international debut for Munster second row Edwin Edogbo, while Michael Milne, a try-scorer against Les Bleus drops out in favour of Tom O'Toole. Tadhg Furlong returns after recovering from a troublesome calf injury.
"It's something that obviously excites us," Farrell told RTÉ Sport after naming a side containing six new starters and three additions to the bench.
"The team that we've picked is the right one for this weekend for a number of reasons - last week's performance, trying to get people a chance to show what they've got and how the format of the Six Nations has changed.
"It all gets thrown into the pot, but at the forefront of that is a team that's picked to play against a very good Italian side."
The Italians have never won in Dublin in the Six Nations era and the fixture has traditionally seen less experienced personnel get their chance.
Farrell insisted that this is a real opportunity for players to stake a claim on the starting shirts.
"Yeah, a few doors left open across the team and a few opportunities there to be taken. And people need to do that," he said.
"Very happy [with the week's training] because nobody was holding back so there's a lot of honesty there, there's no excuses.
"Again, you always think preparations are going to go right but until you get a smack in the face, certainly in Paris, you get to find out a bit about yourselves.
"The good thing about that is nine days later we get to have another crack at it.
"There's no doubt [we want a reaction].
"We always discuss how do you want this to look on Friday morning, as it was from last week, because you don't want any regrets but we had a few coming out of that game.
"It seems as if the eye has been taken off the ball." Bernard Jackman feels that the Irish rugby production line is starting to look very shaky.
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"To get back on the horse and put that right is at the forefront of everyone's mind."
Asked about the physicality he expects Izuchukwu, on his fourth cap, and uncapped Edogbo to bring to proceedings, and Baloucoune's qualities as he wins his fifth cap and first since 2022, he said: "People need to step up to show them the way of what it takes to be an Ireland international.
"It's up to everyone in the room, certainly our experienced guys, to show the way as far as that's concerned. Because if that's shown to them in the right manner, those two kids will follow that."
"Rob, the sheer pace that he's got excites everyone.
"Everyone loves a bit of pace within the side but it’s been a bit stop-start for him.
"You’ll remember him coming in and playing in a big game against South Africa, it’s been a bit stop-start with injuries and things like that and continuity has been hard work for him.
"But during that period from him coming in to start his international career to where he is now, he’s learned a lot about himself and his game has certainly come on.
"He’s a great defensive winger, he’s got a much better understanding of how to get himself into the game off his wing and he can break a tackle.
"He’s not just quick, he can offload the ball.
"So things are getting better as far as that’s concerned, he just needs an opportunity like this to try and do it on the big stage again.
"Edwin, I mean, what a story. It's actually phenomenal, you know, to celebrate that with his family tonight.
"It's going to be a joy for all of us. So I suppose everyone's talked about his potential. But again, I would like to reiterate that he's young as far as this type of experience is concerned - big game experience, even at Munster, etc.
"So it’s potential at this moment in time. This type of opportunity is going to be what he needs to kick on with his game. So we're excited about that.
"Izzy, he's someone that we've ear-marked for quite some time now.
"He's been in our own camp and we've tried to give him game time, but it's been stop-start for him with injuries as well."
Farrell was also asked about his post-match comments when he spoke about being surprised that the team lacked intent, and if he had a message for fans who are concerned about the overall trajectory of the side, who have lost to France, twice, New Zealand, twice and South Africa in the last 15 months.
"A lot of it will stay with us because a lot of it, rightly so, is private enough," said the 50-year-old.
"But as you can imagine, because of the good people that we've got in the environment, there's a lot of honesty and a bit of soul-searching for reasons why, etc.
"We've addressed all that and got back on the horse, put the boots back on and had a couple of training sessions and got to the business end of the week now.
"We're ready to put a performance on that which we should be proud of ourselves.
"The trajectory of every single team is always about learning and there's good and bad in that.
"These types of experiences for us, although it's not nice, first game up and came second best by quite a stretch.
"But it's how we bounce back and move on from that because these experiences are going to continue to happen down the track.
"I believe with the squad and the wider squad that we've got, those types of occasions will stand to us."
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