| There are two changes from the side that defeated Argentina during the autumn: Gordon D’Arcy returns at centre after missing the autumn series due to injury. To accommodate this selection Geordan Murphy moves to full back in place of Girvan Dempsey, and Shane Horgan takes over on the right wing. In the back row, Denis Leamy comes in for Johnny O’Connor at openside.
Second row Malcolm O’Kelly will equal the record of Mike Gibson as the most capped Irish player when he takes to the field at the weekend for his 69th Cap. John Hayes is also in line for his 50th cap.
Ireland: Geordan Murphy (Leicester); Shane Horgan (Leinster), Brian O’Driscoll (Capt: Leinster), Gordon D’Arcy (Leinster), Denis Hickie (Leinster); Ronan O’Gara (Munster), Peter Stringer(Munster); Reggie Corrigan (Leinster), Shane Byrne (Leinster), John Hayes (Munster); Malcolm O’Kelly (Leinster), Paul O’Connell (Munster); Simon Easterby (Llanelli), Anthony Foley (Munster) Denis Leamy (Munster).
Replacements: Frank Sheahan (Munster), Marcus Horan (Munster), Donncha O’Callaghan (Munster), Eric Miller (Leinster), Guy Easterby (Leinster), David Humphreys (Ulster), Girvan Dempsey (Leinster).
Italy: Roland de Marigny (Overmach Parma); Mirco Bergamasco (Stade Francais), Gonzalo Canale (Benetton Treviso), Andrea Masi (Arix Viadana), Ludovico Nitoglia (Ghial Calvisano); Luciano Orquera (Carrera Petrarca Padova), Alessandro Troncon (Benetton Treviso); Andrea Lo Cicero (Conad L’aquila) Fabio Ongaro (Benetton Treviso)/Giorgio Intoppa (Ghial Calvisano), Martin Castrogiovanni (Ghial Calvisano); Santiago Dellape’ (Agen) Marco Bortolami (Narbonne - Capt); Aaron Persico (Agen) Mauro Bergamasco (Stade Francais), Sergio Parisse (Benetton Treviso).
Replacements: Salvatore Perugini (Ghial Calvisano), Giorgio Intoppa (Ghial Calvisano)/Carlo Festuccia (Skg Gran Rugby), Carlo Antonio Del Fava (Overmach Parma), David Dal Maso (Benetton Treviso), Paul Griffen (Ghial Calvisano)/Pietro Travagli (Arix Viadana), Walter Pozzebon (Benetton Treviso), Paul Kaine Robertson (Arix Viadana)
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