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