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Sexton blow for Ireland, Gower starts for Italy

Munster fly-half Ronan O'Gara is set to earn his 94th Ireland cap on Sunday © Getty Images

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Ronan O'Gara has been handed the Ireland No.10 shirt for Saturday's Six Nations opener against Italy at Croke Park.

The Munster No.10 reclaims his place in Declan Kidney's starting line-up with a leg injury ruling Leinster rival Jonathan Sexton out of the clash. Sexton laid claim to the jersey last autumn with outstanding performances against Fiji and South Africa that lifted him above O'Gara in the pecking order.

Both players have been in fine form since but the 24-year-old Sexton was favourite to start at Croke Park on Saturday - until a dead leg ended his involvement. Paddy Wallace, who played at fly-half in the A team defeat by England Saxons on Sunday, provides cover on the bench.

Leinster's Kevin McLaughlin is the one new cap named in the side and the 25-year-old will pack down at blindside flanker alongside provincial team-mate Jamie Heaslip and Munster's David Wallace. McLaughlin is the beneficiary after Ulster's Stephen Ferris lost his battle with a knee injury. Ferris sustained the injury while on Heineken Cup duty for Ulster against Bath 10 days ago and has not been risked with the crucial showdown against France looming on Saturday week.

Andrew Trimble completes his comeback from injury with a place on the left wing in what will be his first international appearance since tackling England in March 2008. Gordon D'Arcy renews his centre partnership with Brian O'Driscoll while Tomas O'Leary will partner O'Gara at half-back. Jerry Flannery starts at hooker alongside John Hayes and Cian Healy while Rory Best is named in the replacements following his recovery from injury.

Rory Best of Ulster, who also started for Ireland A in Bath last weekend, is included on the bench to continue his comeback from neck surgery. In total there are four changes to the side that toppled world champions South Africa 15-10 in last autumn's gripping climax at Croke Park.

Italy coach Nick Mallett has made no changes to the squad that beat Samoa in November for Saturday´s Six Nations opener.

The Azzurri won the final Test of last year against the Samoans 24-6, to end a 13-match winless streak. Bayonne fly-half Craig Gower has recovered from a knee injury and has been handed the number 10 role while Benetton Treviso's Alessandro Zanni will replace injured captain Sergio Parisse at number 8.

Parisse is out for the entire tournament with a knee injury, so Leonardo Ghiraldini will serve as captain. Mallett has included uncapped Rovigo fly-half Riccardo Bocchino in the squad. The Italians go into the tournament looking to improve after wooden-spoon performances in 2008 and 2009. They have won just one of their last 10 games in the Six Nations, a 23-20 victory over Scotland in Rome nearly two years ago.

Ireland team to play Italy in the Six Nations Championship on Saturday, February 6, at Croke Park (1430):
R Kearney (Leinster); T Bowe (Ospreys), B O'Driscoll (Leinster capt), G D'Arcy (Leinster), A Trimble (Ulster); R O'Gara (Munster), T O'Leary (Munster); C Healy (Leinster), J Flannery (Munster), J Hayes (Munster); D O'Callaghan (Munster), P O'Connell (Munster), K McLaughlin (Leinster), D Wallace (Munster), J Heaslip (Leinster).
Replacements: R Best (Ulster), T Court (Ulster), L Cullen (Leinster), S O'Brien (Leinster), E Reddan (Leinster), P Wallace (Ulster), K Earls (Munster).

Italy:
L McLean (Benetton Treviso); K Robertson (Viadana), G Canale (Clermont-Aubergne), G Garcia (Benetton Treviso), Mirco Bergamasco (Stade Francais); C Gower (Bayonne), T Tebaldi (Gran Parma); S Perugini (Bayonne), L Ghiraldini (Benetton Treviso), M Castrogiovanni (Leicester Tigers), C Del Fava (Viadana), Q Geldenhuys (Viadana), J Sole (Viadana), Mauro Bergamasco (Stade Francais), A Zanni (Benetton Treviso)
Replacements: F Ongaro (Saracens), M Aguero (Saracens), M Bortolami (Gloucester), P Derbyshire (Petrarca Padova), S Picone (Treviso), R Bocchino (Rovigo), A Masi (Racing Metro Paris)

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