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DUBLIN - Ireland rugby coach Eddie O'Sullivan has made just four changes from the side who left the World Cup at the pool stages when he named his starting 15 today for Sunday's (NZT) Six Nations opener at home against Italy.
Ulster utility back Andrew Trimble and Leinster lock Malcolm O'Kelly replace injured pair Shane Horgan and Paul O'Connell, while Leinster's Girvan Dempsey and Ulster's Rory Best return at fullback and hooker respectively.
The only other change from the side who lost 15-30 to Argentina at the World Cup is positional with Leicester's Geordon Murphy moving to the left wing to take over from the retired Denis Hickie in a familiar lineup.
Three of the four players coming in started at points during the World Cup campaign while the other, O'Kelly, will win his 92nd cap.
Among the replacements, Bernard Jackman, Tony Buckley, Jamie Heaslip and Rob Kearney all await their first taste of Six Nations action.
"There were a couple of difficult calls to make," O'Sullivan said.
"The front row was hard because Rory has played very well since recovering from injury, but Jackman pushed him close.
"We looked at Jamie Heaslip because of his form but on balance we decided to leave the back row as it is. Halfback was a tight call as well. It could have gone either way between (Eoin) Reddan and (Peter) Stringer."
Brian O'Driscoll will captain the side to win his 80th cap, a milestone John Hayes will also reach against the Italians.
Ireland
Girvan Dempsey, Andrew Trimble, Brian O'Driscoll (captain), Gordon D'Arcy, Geordon Murphy, Ronan O'Gara, Eoin Reddan, Denis Leamy, David Wallace, Simon Easterby, Malcolm O'Kelly, Donnacha O'Callaghan, John Hayes, Rory Best, Marcus Horan.
Reserves: Bernard Jackman, Tony Buckley, Mick O'Driscoll, Jamie Heaslip, Peter Stringer, Paddy Wallace, Rob Kearney.
- REUTERS
