The new look side, showing 13 changes from the selected team againstWales, includes the return to international duty of backs Denis Hickie and Rob Henderson and prop forward John Hayes, each of whom missed the summer tour to Australia, Samoa and Tonga because of injury.
Victor Costello, who was forced to cry off the Welsh game because of injury, is back on the team at N0. 8 for his 31st appearance, while Marcus Horanresumes his place at loose head prop, having been ruled out ofselection against Wales because of an ankle injury, while neither Ronan O'Gara nor Shane Horgan were considered because of injury.
Ireland ( v Italy, Thomond Park, Aug. 30th, 3pm).
15 - Girvan Dempsey (Leinster - Terenure College)14 - John Kelly (Munster - Cork Constitution)13 - Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster - Blackrock College) capt. 12 - Rob Henderson (Munster - Garryowen)11 - Denis Hickie (Leinster - St. Mary's College)10 - David Humphreys (Ulster - Dungannon) 9 - Guy Easterby (Rotherham) 1 - Marcus Horan (Munster - Shannon)2 - Shane Byrne (Leinster - Blackrock College)
Replacements: 16 - Paul Shields (Ulster - Ballymena)17 - Justin Fitzpatrick (Castres)18 - Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster -Cork Constitution)19 - Kieron Dawson (London Irish) 20 - Brian O'Meara (Leinster - Cork Constitution)21 - Geordan Murphy (Leicester)22 - Jonathan Bell (Ulster - Dungannon).