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
Ireland's record points scorer Ronan O'Gara is back at fly-half for the opening match of the RBS Six Nations against Italy on Saturday.
Jonathan Sexton, who starred at number 10 in the November win over world champions South Africa, was ruled out because of a dead leg injury.
Leinster flanker Kevin McLaughlin is the only new cap, replacing injured Ulster star Stephen Ferris.
Andrew Trimble wins a place in the wing and Gordon D'Arcy is in at centre.
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 axed from the 22 altogether.
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.
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, D O'Callaghan, P'Connell, K McLaughlin, D Wallace, J Heaslip.
Replacements: R Best, T Court, L Cullen, S O'Brien, E Reddan, P Wallace, K Earls.
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