O'Callaghans's left knee was tested yesterday and a call was made this morning that he will not be fit to play in Ireland's RBS 6 Nations opener on Saturday.

O'Callaghan's injury sees Leo Cullen promoted from the replacements bench. He will line out in the second row alongside Paul O'Connell, as he did against Fiji in November, for his first RBS 6 Nations game since he started against Wales in March 2003. Munster's Donnacha Ryan has taken Cullen's place on the bench and is in line for his first RBS 6 Nations cap.

Ireland Team & Replacements (v Italy, 2010 RBS 6 Nations Championship, Croke Park, Saturday, February 6, kick-off 2.30pm):

15 - Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14 - Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
13 - Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) (capt)
12 - Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
11 - Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
10 - Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
9 - Tomas O'Leary (Dolphin/Munster)
1 - Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
2 - Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster)
3 - John Hayes (Bruff/Munster)
4 - Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster)
5 - Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
6 - Kevin McLaughlin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
7 - David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)
8 - Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)

Replacements:
16 - Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
17 - Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)
18 - Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
19 - Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)
20 - Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
21 - Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)
22 - Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)


For further information contact:
Karl Richardson
IRFU Communications & Media Manager
T: +353 (0) 866477874
E: karl.richardson@irfu.ie