Centre Brian O'Driscoll will win his 80th cap for Ireland this Saturday when he leads the team out to play Italy in Croke Park in the opening game of the 2008 RBS 6 Nations Championship.

Ireland Coach Eddie O'Sullivan has named Geordan Murphy on the left wing, with Ulster's Andrew Trimble named on the right wing. At halfback, Ronan O'Gara will continue his partnership with Eoin Reddan, who was named at scrumhalf to win his 6th cap for Ireland.

In the forwards, Prop John Hayes will also be reaching the landmark of 80 caps for Ireland in a front row that sees the return of Rory Best to the starting line-up. Malcolm O'Kelly also returns to the starting fifteen to extend his Ireland caps record to 92.

The Ireland team to play Italy in the RBS 6 Nations Championship on Saturday, 2nd February 2008 in Croke Park at 14.00hrs is as follows:

Player Club Caps

15 - Girvan Dempsey Terenure College/Leinster 78

14 - Andrew Trimble Ballymena/Ulster 19

13 - Brian O'Driscoll Captain UCD/Leinster 79

12 - Gordon D'Arcy Lansdowne/Leinster 36

11 - Geordan Murphy Leicester 53

10 - Ronan O'Gara Cork Constitution/Munster 77

9 - Eoin Reddan Wasps 5

1 - Marcus Horan Shannon/Munster 51

2 - Rory Best Belfast Harlequins/Ulster 17

3 - John Hayes Bruff/Munster 79

4 - Donncha O'Callaghan Cork Constitution/Munster 40

5 - Malcolm O'Kelly St.Mary's College/Leinster 91

6 - Simon Easterby Llanelli 62

7 - David Wallace Garryowen/Munster 41

8 - Denis Leamy Cork Constitution/Munster 27

Replacements:

16 - Bernard Jackman Clontarf/Leinster 4

17 - Tony Buckley Shannon/Munster 2

18 - Mick O'Driscoll Cork Constitution/Munster 11

19 - Jamie Heaslip Clontarf/Leinster 3

20 - Peter Stringer Shannon/Munster 79

21 - Paddy Wallace Ballymena/Ulster 6

22 - Robert Kearney UCD/Leinster 1



Not Considered:

Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster) {suspension}

Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster) {back}



For further information contact:

Karl Richardson

IRFU Communications & Media Manager

Tel: +353 (0) 866477874

Email: karl.richardson@irfu.ie <mailto:karl.richardson@irfu.ie>

Tuesday, 29th January 2008