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Ireland Team to Play Italy

Ireland Team to Play Italy

The Ireland management have made two changes to the team which started in November’s 21-19 defeat of Argentina, for Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations opener in Italy.

The Ireland management have made two changes to the team which started in November’s 21-19 defeat of Argentina, for Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations opener in Italy.

In the back line, Geordan Murphy moves to full-back in place of Girvan Dempsey, who reverts to the replacements instead of Kevin Maggs.

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In a positional switch, Shane Horgan moves to Murphy’s spot on the right wing, with Gordon D’Arcy returning to inside centre, having missed the autumn internationals due to a groin injury.

In the back row, Denis Leamy comes into the team for Johnny O’Connor at openside. 23-year-old Leamy made his debut against the USA in November, and Sunday marks his first appearance in the Six Nations.

Second row Malcolm O’Kelly will be winning his 69th cap and in doing so, will equal the record of Mike Gibson as the most capped Irish player.

John Hayes will be winning his 50th cap at prop, and is only eight caps behind the Irish record held by Philip Orr.

Leinster centre Brian O’Driscoll will also captain his country for the 19th time, whilst winning his 56th cap.

O’Driscoll has guided Ireland to fifteen wins in his previous 18 as skipper.

The Ireland team to play Italy in the RBS 6 Nations at Stadio Flaminio, Rome on Sunday, 6th February at 14.30hrs, is as follows:

15 – Geordan Murphy

(Leicester), DOB 19/04/78, 26 Caps
14 – Shane Horgan
(Leinster – Lansdowne), 18/07/78, 34 Caps
13 – Brian O’Driscoll Captain
(Leinster -Blackrock College), 21/01/79, 55 Caps
12 – Gordon D’Arcy
(Leinster – Lansdowne), 10/02/80, 10 Caps
11 – Denis Hickie
(Leinster – St. Mary’s College), 13/02/76, 46 Caps

10 – Ronan O’Gara
(Munster – Cork Constitution), 07/03/77, 47 Caps
9 – Peter Stringer
(Munster – Shannon), 13/12/77, 51 Caps
1 – Reggie Corrigan
(Leinster – Greystones), 19/11/70, 39 Caps
2 – Shane Byrne
(Leinster – Blackrock College), 18/07/71, 33 Caps
3 – John Hayes
(Munster – Bruff), 02/11/73, 49 Caps
4 – Malcolm O’Kelly
(Leinster – St. Mary’s College), 19/07/74, 68 Caps
5 – Paul O’Connell
(Munster – Young Munster), 20/10/79, 24 Caps
6 – Simon Easterby
(Llanelli), 21/07/75, 37 Caps
7 – Denis Leamy
(Cork Constitution – Munster), 27/11/81, 1 Cap
8 – Anthony Foley
(Munster – Shannon), 30/10/73, 57 Caps

Replacements:

16 – Frank Sheahan
(Munster – Cork Constitution), 27/08/76, 19 Caps
17 – Marcus Horan
(Munster – Shannon), 07/09/77, 23 Caps
18 – Donncha O’Callaghan
(Munster – Cork Constitution), 23/03/79, 13 Caps
19 – Eric Miller
(Leinster – Terenure College), 23/9/75, 42 Caps
20 – Guy Easterby
(Leinster – Blackrock College), 21/03/71, 27 Caps
21 – David Humphreys
(Ulster – Dungannon), 10/09/71, 65 Caps
22 – Girvan Dempsey
(Leinster – Terenure College), 02/10/75, 53 Caps

Not considered due to injury: Keith Gleeson (Leinster – St. Mary’s College) {Leg}, Neil McMillan (Ulster – Ballymena) {knee}.