JAMIE Heaslip will miss Ireland’s opening game of the Six Nations Championship after failing to recover from a shoulder injury.
The Ireland and Leinster back rower has been rested by Joe Schmidt for the clash against Italy in Rome.
His Leinster clubmate Jordi Murphy will take the No 8 spot in his absence.
Alongside Murphy in the back row, Leinster’s Sean O’Brien starts at openside after making his first competitive appearance in five months for the Ireland Wolfhounds against the England Saxons last Friday.
Ireland captain and Munster lock Paul O’Connell will partner Leinster's Devin Toner in the second row.
Leinster’s Jack McGrath and Mike Ross fill both prop positions, at loosehead and tighthead, whilst Ulster hooker Rory Best completes the set.
At halfback regular scrumhalf Conor Murray returns from injury to fill the No 9 spot. Munster’s Ian Keatley won the battle with Ian Madigan to start at out-half.
In midfield, Connacht’s Robbie Henshaw and Ulster’s Jared Payne reunited the partnership from Ireland’s victory over South Africa last November.
Ulster’s Tommy Bowe and Munster’s Simon Zebo are named on the wings and Leinster’s Rob Kearney remains Schmidt’s choice at fullback.
Ireland team to face Italy:
R Kearney (UCD/Leinster), T Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), J Payne (Ulster), R Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht), S Zebo (Cork Con/Munster), I Keatley (Young Munster/Munster), C Murray (Garryowen/Munster), J McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster), R Best (Banbridge/Ulster), M Ross (Clontarf/Leinster), D Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster), P O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster), P O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster), S O'Brien (UCD/Leinster), J Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Replacements: S Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster), J Cronin (Dolphin/Munster), M Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster), I Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster), T O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster), I Boss (Terenure/Leinster), I Madigan (Blackrock/Leinster), F Jones (Shannon/Munster)
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