DArcy - last years player of the championship - missed the November internationals through injury but has reclaimed his place in the line-up and will resume his midfield partnership with skipper Brian ODriscoll.

Girvan Dempsey makes way for DArcy - the Leinster full-back must settle for a place on the bench - while Leicester star Geordan Murphy takes the number 15 jersey with Shane Horgan reverting to the wing.

The second change to the team who defeated Argentina in the autumn sees Wasps openside Johnny OConnor lose out to in-form Munster back row Denis Leamy, who will win his second cap on Sunday.

Ireland team to face Italy at the Stadio Flaminio in the RBS 6 Nations on Sunday:

G Murphy (Leicester), S Horgan (Leinster), B O'Driscoll (Leinster, capt), G D'Arcy (Leinster), D Hickie (Leinster), R O'Gara (Munster), P Stringer (Munster), R Corrigan (Leinster), S Byrne (Leinster), J Hayes (Munster), M O'Kelly (Leinster), P O'Connell (Munster), S Easterby (Llanelli), D Leamy (Munster), A Foley (Munster).

Replacements: F Sheahan (Munster), M Horan (Munster), D O'Callaghan (Munster), E Miller (Leinster), G Easterby (Leinster), D Humphreys (Ulster), G Dempsey (Leinster).