Sexton Ruled Out Of Italy Game

Ireland out-half Jonathan Sexton has been ruled out of the game against Italy on Saturday. Sexton, who had recovered from the hamstring injury that had kept him out, was named in the starting line-up earlier today but went over on his foot in training.

A scan has confirmed that Jonathan Sexton has torn a tendon in his left foot and is therefore ruled out this weekend.

Paddy Jackson will start the game, earning his third successive Ireland cap at out-half. Ian Madigan, who made his debut against France last Saturday, has been added to the replacements bench.

IRELAND Team & Replacements (v Italy, 2013 RBS 6 Nations Championship, Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Saturday, March 16, kick-off 3.30pm local time/2.30pm Irish time):

Club/Province/International Caps -

15 - Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster/45)
14 - Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster/4)
13 - Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster/124)
12 - Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster/2)
11 - Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster/38)
10 - Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster/2)
9 - Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster/18)
1 - Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster/38)
2 - Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster/66)
3 - Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster/28)
4 - Mike McCarthy (Buccaneers/Connacht/9)
5 - Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster/27)
6 - Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster/13)
7 - Sean O'Brien (UCD/Leinster/26)
8 - Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster/56) (capt)

Replacements:

16 - Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster/25)
17 - David Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster/6)
18 - Stephen Archer (Cork Constitution/Munster) *
19 - Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster/4)
20 - Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster/4)
21 - Paul Marshall (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) *
22 - Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster/1)
23 - Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster/25)

* Denotes uncapped player

Speaking ahead of Ireland's final RBS 6 Nations match against Italy, hooker Rory Best said: "We took a lot of positives from the France game, we'll take those forward and build on them. We can potentially finish third in the Championship and we're looking to end the campaign with a good win in Rome."

Speaking ahead of Ireland's upcoming RBS 6 Nations encounter with France, prop Mike Ross said: "We were enormously frustrated after the Scottish game. We're playing at home (this Saturday), it's a big source of pride for us. We want to get back to winning ways. Even though the Championship is gone, it's our home patch and you want to win every time you pull on the green jersey."

Irish Rugby TV caught up with Jenny Murphy at the Ireland Women's Sevens training camp. We spoke to the centre about the pool draw for the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Moscow, the difference between Sevens training and regular training and we look forward to the game against France at Ashbourne RFC on Friday.

Speaking ahead of Ireland's upcoming RBS 6 Nations clash with France, hooker Rory Best said: "We still have two games left to play and we have to make sure we finish well. It's going to be a tough challenge against France. But we're back at home, it's a sell-out and we need to make sure we put away the chances we create more efficiently than we have done."