Furlong to make Ireland return against Italy

Ireland prop Tadhg Furlong is set to play his first Test match since July when Simon Easterby's side meet Italy in Rome for their last game of the Six Nations.

The visitors to the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday still have an outside chance of securing the title despite their loss to France in round four but will need to win and hope results later in the day go their way.

Tight-head Furlong has been dealing with hamstring and calf injuries which caused him to miss the first four games of the championship, as well as his side's four Tests in the autumn.

He has not played at all since Leinster's Champions Cup win over La Rochelle on 12 January.

Interim boss Easterby also expects to have Mack Hansen back after the Connacht wing missed the loss to France with a quad injury.

Garry Ringrose is available for Rome after suspension, although decisions on James Lowe and Ronan Kelleher will be made later in the week.

Wing Lowe was a late change from the line-up to face France thanks to a back injury in the warm-up, while hooker Kelleher has been dealing with a neck issue.

The game will be the final Ireland Tests for retiring trio Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray and Cian Healy.