RBS Six Nations: Ireland v Italy
Venue: Croke Park Date: Saturday, 6 February Kick-off: 1430 GMT
Coverage: BBC One, HD, Red Button, Sport website, Radio 5 live sports extra and BBC Radio Ulster
Live text commentary on BBC Sport and mobile phones

Leo Cullen and Paul O'Connell will play together in the second row

Leinster lock Leo Cullen has replaced the injured Donncha O'Callaghan in the Ireland line-up for the RBS Six Nations opener against Italy on Saturday.

O'Callaghan was ruled out of the Croke Park game on Thursday morning because of a knee injury.

Munster's Donnacha Ryan takes Cullen's place on the bench and he is in line for a first Six Nations cap.

Ronan O'Gara returns at fly-half while Leinster flanker Kevin McLaughlin is the only new cap for the holders.

Jonathan Sexton, who starred at number 10 in the November win over world champions South Africa, was ruled out because of a dead leg.

McLaughlin replaces injured Ulster star Stephen Ferris, Andrew Trimble wins a place in the wing and Gordon D'Arcy is in at centre.

606: DEBATE Trimble's kicking has improved massively and his tackling has been top class StandUlstermen

Trimble, who has been in sparking form for Ulster, is preferred to Keith Earls while D'Arcy has been picked ahead of Paddy Wallace to be Brian O'Driscoll's partner at centre.

Wallace is on the bench as cover for centre and fly-half, so Sexton, whose five penalties helped the Irish humble the Springboks in the autumn, is not in the 22.

Ulster hooker Rory Best's inclusion as a replacement completes a remarkably quick comeback from neck surgery.

Best, who had not been expected to play rugby this season, was in the Ireland A side which lost to the England Saxons last Sunday.

O'Callaghan's knee injury prevented him from taking a full part in Monday's squad session but he was able to train at the RDS on Tuesday.

However, the Corkman's left knee was tested on Wednesday and it was decided to withdraw him from the squad.

Without the injured Ferris, a key performer in last year's first Grand Slam since 1948, Kidney went for 24-year-old McLaughlin ahead of fellow in-form Leinster back row Sean O'Brien.

Ferris sustained a knee injury while on Heineken Cup duty for Ulster against Bath 10 days ago and has not been risked with the crucial showdown against France looming on Saturday week.

"I would not say I am shocked. I felt like I had a chance coming into this week," said McLaughlin.

"It is a big step up for me this weekend but I will treat it like any other game, just get on with it and play my game on Saturday."

Ireland: R Kearney, T Bowe, B O'Driscoll, G D'Arcy, A Trimble, R O'Gara, T O'Leary; C Healy, J Flannery, J Hayes, L Cullen, P'Connell, K McLaughlin, D Wallace, J Heaslip.
Replacements: R Best, T Court, D Ryan, S O'Brien, E Reddan, P Wallace, K Earls.

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