Ireland v Italy, Rugby World Cup, October 2
O'Gara and Murray start for Irish
ESPNscrum Staff
September 30, 2011
Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll issues instructions, Australia v Ireland, Rugby World Cup, Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand, September 17, 2011
Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll has been recalled for Sunday's crunch clash with Italy © Getty Images
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Ireland head coach Declan Kidney has selected Munster duo Ronan O'Gara and Conor Murray as his half-back pairing for Sunday's pivotal Rugby World Cup Pool C meeting with Italy in Dunedin.

O'Gara started last weekend's rout of Russia and he has held on to the No.10 jersey for the game at the Otago Stadium, with Leinster fly-half Jonathan Sexton again having to settle for a seat on the bench. While there had been mounting speculation that O'Gara would be preferred to Sexton, the inclusion of Murray, a surprise inclusion in Ireland's World Cup squad, ahead of Reddan at scrum-half for what is only his second ever start for his country is surprising.

Elsewhere, captain Brian O'Driscoll returns at outside centre and his inclusion sees Keith Earls switch back out to the left wing. Gordon D'Arcy will start alongside O'Driscoll in midfield having been preferred to Paddy Wallace at 12. In the only other change to the back-line which saw off the Russians, Tommy Bowe replaces Fergus McFadden on the right wing.

In the pack, hooker Rory Best and tight-head Mike Ross are recalled to the front-row, Leo Cullen makes way for Paul O'Connell in the second-row and Stephen Ferris takes over from Donnacha Ryan at blindside flanker.

Ireland: Rob Kearney; Tommy Bowe, Brian O'Driscoll (capt), Gordon D'Arcy, Keith Earls; Ronan O'Gara, Conor Murray; Cian Healy, Rory Best, Mike Ross; Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell; Stephen Ferris, Sean O'Brien, Jamie Heaslip.

Replacements: Sean Cronin, Tom Court, Donnacha Ryan, Denis Leamy, Eoin Reddan, Jonathan Sexton, Andrew Trimble.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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