Munster scrum-half Tomas O’Leary has been thrown straight into the starting line-up for this weekend’s Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome.
O’Leary played in the Irish Wolfhounds side that lost out to Scotland last Friday, but was called up to boost the senior squad by Declan Kidney in the wake of an injury crisis that has led to the absence of as much as eight front line players.
O’Leary will partner Jonathan Sexton at out-half in a back division that also features Luke Fitzgerald at full-back and Fergus McFadden, who is making his Six Nations debut on the wing.
McFadden’s colleague Mike Ross lines up alongside Cian Healy and Rory Best in the front row, while man of the moment Sean O’Brien will line up at number eight alongside Munster duo Denis Leamy and David Wallace in the back row.
Ireland’s clash with Italy kicks off at the Stadio Flaminio in Rome on Saturday at 2.30pm
Ireland: Luke Fitzgerald; Fergus McFadden, Brian O’Driscoll (captain), Gordon D’Arcy, Keith Earls; Jonathan Sexton, Tomas O’Leary; Cian Healy, Rory Best, Mike Ross; Donncha O’Callaghan, Paul O’Connell; Denis Leamy, David Wallace, Sean O’Brien.
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Tom Court, Leo Cullen, Shane Jennings, Eoin Reddan, Ronan O’Gara, Paddy Wallace.
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